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NEGHBORLY  POEMS 
SKETCHES  IN  PROSE  WITH 

INTERLUDING  VERSES 
AFTERWHILES 
PIPES  O'  PAN  AT  ZEKES- 

BURY.    (Prose  and  Verse) 
RHYMES  OF  CHILDHOOD 
THE  FLYING  ISLANDS  OF 

THE  NIGHT 
GREEN  FIELDS  AND  RUN 

NING  BROOKS 
ARMAZINDY 
A  CHILD-WORLD 
HOME-FOLKS 
HIS  PA'S  ROMANCE  (Portrait 

by  Clay)     _ 

GREENFIELD  EDITION 

Sold  only  in  sets.    Eleven  volumes 
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OLD-FASHIONED  ROSES 

(English  Edition) 

THE  'GOLDEN  YEAR 

(English  Edition) 
POEMS  HERE  AT  HOME 
RUBAlYAT  OF  DOC  SIFERS 
THE  BOOK  OF  JOYOUS 

CHILDREN 
RILEY  CHILD-RHYMES 

(Pictures  by  Vawter) 
RILEY  LOVE-LYRICS 

(Pictures  by  Dyer) 
RILEY  FARM-RHYMES 

(Pictures  by  Vawter) 
AN  OLD  SWEETHEART  OF 

MINE    (Pictures  by  Christy) 
OUT  TO  OLD  AUNT  MARY'S 

(Pictures  by  Christy) 
A  DEFECTIVE  SANTA  CLAUS 

(Forty  Pictures  by  Relyea  and 

Vawter) 


OF  THE"^ 
UNIVERSITY 


HIS  PA'S  ROMANCE 


JAMES  WHITCOMBjRILEY 


LK1L 


ILLUSTRATIONS  BY  WILL  VAWTER 
PORTRAIT  BY  JOHN  CECIL  CLAY 


UNIVERSITY 


INDIANAPOLIS 

THE  BOBBS-MERRILL  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


COPYRIGHT,  1903 
JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY 

NOVEMBER 


R--SE 


PRESS  OF 

BRAUNWORTH  &  CO- 

BOOKBINDERS  AND  PRINTERS 

BROOKLYN.  N.  Y. 


•/"IA//V 


His  Pas  Romance 


155582 


TO— 

EDGAR  WILSON  NYE 


SUCH  silence — after  such  glad  merriment! 
O  prince  of  halest  humor,  wit  and  cheer: 

Could  you  speak  yet  to  us,  I  doubt  not  we 
Should  catch  your  voice,  still  blithely  eloquent 
Above  all  murmurings  of  sorrow  here, 
Calling  your  love  back  to  us  laughingly. 


His  Pas  Romance 


Contents 

PAGE 

ALMOST  BEYOND  ENDURANCE  27 

AN  IDYL  OF  THE  KING  I37 

AN  OLD  FRIEND  I05 

AT  NINETY  IN  THE  SHADE  67 

BILLY  MILLER'S  CIRCUS-SHOW  55 

BRAVE  REFRAIN,  A  go 

CHAIRLEY  BURKE  60 

EDGAR  WILSON  NYE  !32 

FALL  CRICK  VIEW  OF  THE  EARTHQUAKE,  rR  88 

FIRE  AT  NIGHT  go" 

GOOD-BYE  ER  HOWDY-DO  7! 

"Go  READ  YOUR  BOOK"  !65 

HER  BEAUTIFUL  HANDS  112 

HINT  OF  SPRING,  A  99 

His  PA'S  ROMANCE  ! 

His  ROOM  I20 

IN  STATE  I26 

LAW  OF  THE  PERVERSE,  THE  58 

LISPER,  THE  oj 

LOCAL  POLITICIAN  FROM  AWAY  BACK,  A  73 

LOCKERBIE  FAIR  IOI 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

ME  AND  MARY  83 

MR.  SlLBERBERG  QI 

MUTE  SINGER,  THE  128 

MY  BACHELOR  CHUM  109 

NEVER  TALK  BACK  78 

NOON  INTERVAL,  A  134 

OLD  GRANNY  DUSK  45 

OLD  HEC'S  IDOLATRY  135 

OLD  MAN  OF  THE  SEA,  THE  63 

OUR  BETSY  34 

PATHS  OF  PEACE,  THE  124 

PROSE  OR  VERSE  165 

SIMPLE  RECIPE,  A  30 
SOME  CHRISTMAS  YOUNGSTERS 

THE  STRENGTH  OF  THE  WEAK  40 

THE  LITTLE  QUESTIONER  43 

PARENTAL  CHRISTMAS  PRESENTS  44 

SONGS  OF  A  LIFE-TIME  133 

SPIRITS  AT  HOME  95 

THE  BEST  is  GOOD  ENOUGH  115 

TINKLE  OF  BELLS,  A  103 

TOIL  117 

TOY-BALLOON,  THE  37 

TRIBUTE  OF  His  HOME,  THE  130 

TWILIGHT  STORIES  25 

UNLESS  163 

WHEN  UNCLE  Doc  WAS  YOUNG  51 

YOUNG  OLD  MAN,  THE  47 


HIS    PA'S   ROMANCE 

ALL  'at  I  ever  want  to  be 

Is  ist  to  be  a  man  like  Pa 

When  he  wuz  young  an'  married  Ma ! 

Uncle  he  telled  us  yisterdy 

Ist  all  about  it  then — 'cause  they, 

My  Pa  an'  Ma,  wuz  bofe  away 

To  'tend  P'tracted  Meetin',  where 

My  Pa  an'  Ma  is  allus  there 

When  all  the  big  "Revivals"  is, 

An'    "Love-Feasts,"    too,    an'    "Class,"    an' 

"Prayer," 

An'  when's  "Comoonian  Servicis." 
An',  yes,  an'  Uncle  said  to  not 
To  never  tell  them  ner  let  on 
Like  we  knowed  now  ist  how  they  got 
First  married.    So — while  they  wuz  gone — 
I 


Uncle  he  telled  us  ever'thing — 
'Bout  how  my  Pa  wuz  ist  a  pore 
Farm-boy. — He  says,  I  tell  you  what, 
Your  Pa  wuz  pore !   But  neighbers  they 
All  liked  him — all  but  one  old  man 
An'  his  old  wife  that  folks  all  say 
Nobody  liked,  ner  never  can! 
Yes,  sir !  an'  Uncle  purt'nigh  swore 
About  the  mean  old  man  an'  way 
He  treat'  my  Pa ! — 'cause  he's  a  pore 
Farm-hand — but  prouder  'an  a  king — 
An'  ist  work'  on,  he  did,  an'  wore 
His  old  patched  clo'es,  ist  anyway, 
So  he  saved  up  his  wages — then 
He  ist  worked  on  an'  saved  some  more, 
An'  ist  worked  on,  ist  night  an'  day — 
Till,  sir,  he  save'  up  nine  er  ten 
Er  hunnerd  dollars !   But  he  keep 
All  still  about  it,  Uncle  say — 
But  he  ist  thinks — an'  thinks  a  heap ! 
Though  what  he  wuz  a-thinkin',  Pa 

2 


HIS   PA  S   ROMANCE 

He  never  tell'  a  soul  but  Ma — 

(Then,  course,  you  know,  he  wuzn't  Pa, 

An',  course,  you  know,  she  wuzn't  Ma — 

They  wuz  ist  sweethearts,  course  you  know )  ; 

'Cause  Ma  wuz  ist  a  girl,  about 

Sixteen ;  an'  when  my  Pa  he  go 

A-courtin'  her,  her  Pa  an'  Ma — 

The  very  first  they  find  it  out — 

Wuz  maddest  folks  you  ever  saw ! 

'Cause  it  wuz  her  old  Ma  an'  Pa 

'At  hate'  my  Pa,  an'  toss  their  head, 

An'  ist  raise  Ned !  An'  her  Pa  said 

He'd  ruther  see  his  daughter  dead! 

An'  said  she's  ist  a  child ! — an'  so 

Wuz  Pa ! — An'  ef  he  wuz  man-grown 

An'  only  man  on  earth  below, 

His  daughter  shouldn't  marry  him 

Ef  he's  a  king  an'  on  his  throne ! 

Pa's  chances  then  looked  mighty  slim 

Fer  certain,  Uncle  said.   But  he— 

3 


HIS   PA  S   ROMANCE 


He  never  told  a  soul  but  her 
What  he  wuz  keepin'  quiet  fen 


<r  *  * 


Her  folks  ist  lived  a  mile  from  where 
He  lived  at— an*  they  drove  past  there 


HIS   PA^S   ROMANCE 

To  git  to  town.  An'  ever*  one 
An'  all  the  neighbers  they  liked  her 
An'  showed  it !   But  her  folks — no,  sir ! — 
Nobody  liked  her  parents  none! 
An'  so  when  they  shet  down,  you  know, 
On  Pa — an'  old  man  tell'  him  so — 
Pa  ist  went  back  to  work,  an'  she 
1st  waited.   An',  sir!  purty  soon 
Her  folks  they  thought  he's  turned  his  eye 
Some  other  way — 'cause  by-an'-by 
They  heerd  he'd  rented  the  old  place 
He  worked  on.  An'  one  afternoon 
A  neighber,  that  had  bust'  a  trace, 
He  tell'  the  old  man  they  wuz  signs 
Around  the  old  place  that  the  young 
Man  wuz  a-fixin'  up  the  old 
Log  cabin  some,  an'  he  had  brung 
New  furnichur  from  town ;  an'  told 
How  th'  old  house  'uz  whitewashed  clean 
An'  sweet — wiv  mornin'-glory  vines 
An'  hollyhawks  all  'round  the  door 
5 


HIS   PA'S   ROMANCE 

An'  winders — an'  a  bran'-new  floor 
In  th'  old  porch — an'  wite-new  green- 
An'-red  pump  in  the  old  sweep-well ! 
An',  Uncle  said,  when  he  hear  tell 
O'  all  them  things,  the  old  man  he 
1st  grin'  an'  says,  he  "reckon'  now 
Some  gal,  er  widder  anyhow, 
That  silly  boy  he's  coaxed  at  last 
To  marry  him !"  he  says,  says-ee, 
"An'  ef  he  has,  'so  mote  it  be' !" 
Then  went  back  to  the  house  to  tell 
His  wife  the  news,  as  he  went  past 
The  smokehouse,  an'  then  went  on  in 
The  kitchen,  where  his  daughter  she 
Wuz  washin',  to  tell  her,  an'  grin 
An'  try  to  worry  her  a  spell ! 
The  mean  old  thing !    But  Uncle  said 
She  ain't  cry  much — ist  pull  her  old 
Sunbonnet  forrerds  on  her  head — 
So's  old  man  he  can't  see  her  face 
At  all !  An'  when  he  s'pose  he  scold' 
6 


HIS   PA  S   ROMANCE 

An'  jaw  enough,  he  ist  clear*  out 
An'  think  he's  boss  of  all  the  place ! 

Then  Uncle  say,  the  first  you  know 
They's  go*  to  be  a  Circus-show 


In  town ;  an'  old  man  think  he'll  take 
His  wife  an'  go.  An'  when  she  say 
To  take  their  daughter,  too,  she  shake 
Her  head  like  she  don't  want  to  go ; 
An'  when  he  sees  she  wants  to  stay, 
7 


HIS   PA'S   ROMANCE 


The  old  man  takes  her,  anyway ! 
An'  so  she  went !    But  Uncle  he 
Said  she  looked  mighty  sweet  that  day, 
Though  she  wuz  pale  as  she  could  be, 
A-speshully  a-drivin'  by 
Wite  where  her  beau  lived  at,  you  know ; 
But  out  the  corner  of  his  eye 
The  old  man  watch'  her ;  but  she  throw 
He  pairsol  'round  so  she  can't  see 
The  house  at  all !  An'  then  she  hear 
Her  Pa  an'  Ma  a-talkin'  low 
An'  kindo'  laughin'-like ;  but  she 
1st  set  there  in  the  seat  behind, 
P'tendin'  like  she  didn't  mind. 
An',  Uncle  say,  when  they  got  past 
The  young  man's  place,  an'  'pearantly 
He  wuzn't  home,  but  off  an'  gone 
To  town,  the  old  man  turned  at  last 
An'  talked  back  to  his  daughter  there, 
All  pleasant-like,  from  then  clean  on 
Till  they  got  into  town,  an'  where 
8 


HIS  PA  S   ROMANCE 


The  Circus  wuz,  an*  on  inside 

Oy  that,  an*  through  the  crowd,  on  to 


The  very  top  seat  in  the  tent 
Wite  next  the  band — a-bangin'  through 
A  tune  'at  bust  his  yeers  in  two! 
9 


HIS   PA  S   ROMANCE 

An*  there  the  old  man  scrouged  an'  tried 

To  make  his  wife  set  down,  an'  she 

A-yellin'!    But  ist  what  she  meant 

He  couldn't  hear,  ner  couldn't  see 

Till  she  turned  'round  an'  pinted.    Then 

He  turned  an'  looked — an'  looked  again !  .  . 

He  ist  saw  neighbers  ever'where — 

But,  sir,  his  daughter  wuzn't  there ! 

An',  Uncle  says,  he  even  saw 

Her  beau,  you  know,  he  hated  so ; 

An'  he  wuz  with  some  other  girl. 

An'  then  he  heerd  the  Clown  "Haw-haw!" 

An'  saw  the  horses  wheel  an'  whirl 

Around  the  ring,  an'  heerd  the  zipp 

O'  the  Ringmaster's  long  slim  whip — 

But  that  whole  Circus,  Uncle  said, 

Wuz  all  inside  the  old  man's  head ! 

An*  Uncle  said,  he  didn't  find 
His  daughter  all  that  afternoon — 
An*  her  Ma  says  she'll  lose  her  mind 
10 


HIS    PA  S    ROMANCE 

Ef  they  don't  find  her  purty  soon ! 

But,  though  they  looked  all  day,  an'  stayed 

There  fer  the  night  p'formance — not 

No  use  at  all ! — they  never  laid 

Their  eyes  on  her.    An'  then  they  got 

Their  team  out,  an'  the  old  man  shook 

His  fist  at  all  the  town,  an'  then 

Shook  it  up  at  the  moon  again, 

An'  said  his  time  'ud  come,  some  day ! 

An'  jerked  the  lines  an'  driv  away. 

Uncle,  he  said,  he  'spect,  that  night, 
The  old  man's  madder  yet  when  they 
Drive  past  the  young  man's  place,  an'  hear 
A  fiddle  there,  an'  see  a  light 
Inside,  an'  shadders  light  an'  gay 
A-dancin'  'crost  the  winder-blinds. 
An'  some  young  chaps  outside  yelled,  "Say ! 
What  'pears  to  be  the  hurry — hey?" 
But  the  old  man  ist  whipped  the  lines 
An'  streaked  past  like  a  runaway ! 
II 


HIS   PAJS   ROMANCE 

An'  now  you'll  be  surprised,  I  bet  !— 

I  hardly  ain't  quit  laughin'  yet 

When  Uncle  say,  that  jamboree 

An'  dance  an'  all— w'y,  that's  a  sign 

That  any  old  man  ort  to  see, 

As  plain  as  8  and  I  makes  9, 

That  they's  a  weddin'  wite  inside 

That  very  house  he's  whippin'  so 

To  git  apast — an',  sir !  the  bride 

There's  his  own  daughter !    Yes,  an'  oh ! 

She's  my  Ma  now — an'  young  man  she 

Got  married,  he's  my  Pa !  Whoop-ee ! 

But  Uncle  say  to  not  laugh  all 

The  laughin'  yet,  but  please  save  some 

To  kindo'  spice  up  what's  to  come ! 

Then  Uncle  say,  about  next  day 
The  neighbers  they  begin  to  call 
An'  wish  'em  well,  an'  say  how  glad 
An'  proud  an'  tickled  ever'  way 
Their  friends  all  is— an'  how  they  had 

12 


HIS  PA'S  ROMANCE 


The  lovin'  prayers  of  ever'  one 
That  had  homes  of  tKeir  own !    But  none 
Said  nothin*  'bout  the  home  that  she 
Had  run  away  from !    So  she  sighed 
Sometimes — an'  wunst  she  purt'-nigh  cried. 

Well,  Uncle  say,  her  old  Pa,  he 
1st  like  to  died,  he  wuz  so  mad ! 
An'  her  Ma,  too !    But  by-an'-by 
They  cool  down  some. 

An',  'bout  a  week, 
She  want  to  see  her  Ma  so  bad, 
She  think  she'll  haf  to  go !  An'  so 
She  coax  Pa ;  an*  he  kiss  her  cheek 
An'  say,  Lord  bless  her,  course  they'll  go  ! 
An'  Uncle  say,  when  they're  bofe  come 
A-knockin'  there  at  her  old  home — 
W'y,  first  Pa  know,  the  door  it  flew 
Open,  all  quick,  an'  she's  jerked  in, 
An',  quicker  still,  the  door's  banged  to 
An'  locked !  an'  crosst  the  winder-sill 

13 


HIS   PA'S   ROMANCE 

The  old  man  pokes  a  shotgun  through 
An'  says  to  git !    "You  stold  my  child," 


He  says ;  "an',  now  she's  back,  w'y  you 
Clear  out,  this  minute,  er  I'll  kill 
14 


HIS   PA'S   ROMANCE 

You !    Yes,,  an'  I  'ull  kill  her,  too, 
Ef  you  don't  go !"  An'  then,  all  wild, 
His  young  wife  begs  him  please  to  go ! 
An'  so  he  turn'  an'  walk' — all  slow 
An'  pale  as  death,  but  awful  still 
An'  ca'm — back  to  the  gate,  an'  on 
Into  the  road,  where  he  had  gone 
So  many  times  alone,  you  know! 
An',  Uncle  say,  a  whipperwill 
Holler  so  lonesome,  as  Pa  go 
On  back  to'rds  home,  he  say  he  'spec* 
He  ist  'ud  like  to  wring  its  neck ! 
An'  I  ain't  think  he's  goin'  back 
All  by  hisse'f — but  Uncle  say 
That's  what  he  does,  an'  it's  a  fac' ! 

An'  'pears-like  he's  gone  back  to  stay — 
'Cause  there  he  stick',  ist  thataway, 
An'  don't  go  nowheres  any  more, 
Ner  don't  nobody  ever  see 
15 


HIS   PA'S   ROMANCE 

Him  set  his  foot  outside  the  door — 
Till  'bout  five  days,  a  boy  loped  down 
The  road,  a-comin'  past  from  town, 
An*  he  called  to  him  from  the  gate, 


-1 


An'  sent  the  old  man  word :  He's  thought 
Things  over  now ;  an',  while  he  hate 
To  lose  his  wife,  he  think  she  ought 
To  mind  her  Pa  an'  Ma  an'  do 
16 


Whatever  they  advise  her  to. 
An*  sends  word,  too,  to  come  an*  git 
Her  new  things  an'  the  furnichur 
That  he  had  special'  bought  fer  her — 
'Cause,  now  that  they  wuz  goin'  to  quit, 
She's  free  to  ist  have  all  of  it ; — 
So,  fer  his  love  fer  her,  he  say 
To  come  an'  git  it,  wite  away. 
An',  spang !  that  very  afternoon, 
Here  come  her  Ma — ist  'bout  as  soon 
As  old  man  could  hitch  up  an'  tell 
Her  "hurry  back !"  An'  'bout  as  quick 
As  she's  drove  there  to  where  my  Pa — 
I  mean  to  where  her  son-in-law — 
Lives  at,  he  meets  her  at  the  door 
All  smilin',  though  he's  awful  pale 
An'  trimbly — like  he's  ist  been  sick ; 
He  take  her  in  the  house — an',  'fore 
She  knows  it,  they's  a  cellar-door 
Shet  on  her,  an'  she  hears  the  click 
17 


HIS  PA  S  ROMANCE 

Of  a'  old  rusty  padlock !    Then, 

Uncle,  he  say,  she  kindo'  stands 

An'  thinks — an'  thinks — an'  thinks  ag'in — 

An'  maybe  thinks  of  her  own  child 

Locked  up — like  her !  An'  Uncle  smiled, 

An'  I  ist  laughed  an*  clapped  my  hands ! 


An'  there  she  stayed !  An'  she  can  cry 
Ist  all  she  want !  an'  yell  an'  kick 
To  ist  her  heart's  content !  an'  try 
18 


HIS   PA'S   ROMANCE 

To  pry  out  wiv  a  quiltin'-stick ! 

But  Uncle  say  he  guess  at  last 

She  'bout  give  up,  an'  holler'  through 

The  door-crack  fer  to  please  to  be 

So  kind  an'  good  as  send  an'  tell 

The  old  man,  like  she  want  him  to, 

To  come,  'fore  night,  an'  set  her  free, 

Er — they  wuz  rats  down  there !  An'  yell 

She  did,  till,  Uncle  say,  it  saured 

The  morning's  milk  in  the  back  yard ! 

But  all  the  answer  reached  her,  where 

She's  skeerd  so  in  the  dark  down  there, 

Wuz  ist  a  mutterin'  that  she  heard— 

"I've  sent  him  word ! — I've  sent  him  word 

An'  shore  enough,  as  Uncle  say, 

He  has  "sent  word !" 

Well,  it's  plum  ni»!u 
An'  all  the  house  is  shet  up  tight- 
Only  one  winder  'bout  half-way 
Raised  up,  you  know ;  an'  ain't  no  light 
Inside  the  whole  house,  Uncle  say. 
19 


HIS   PA'S   ROMANCE 

Then,  first  you  know,  there  where  the  team 
Stands  hitched  yet,  there  the  old  man 

stands — 

A*  old  tin  lantern  in  his  hands 
An*  monkey-wrench ;  an*  he  don't  seem 
To  make  things  out,  a-standin'  there. 
He  comes  on  to  the  gate  an'  feels 
An*  fumbles  fer  the  latch — then  hears 
A  voice  that  chills  him  to  the  heels — 
"You  halt !  an'  stand  right  where  you  air  I" 
Then,  sir !  my — my — his  son-in-law, 
There  at  the  winder  wiv  his  gun, 
He  tell  the  old  man  what  he's  done : 
"You  hold  my  wife  a  prisoner — 
An*  your  wife,  drat  ye !  I've  got  her! 
An*  now,  sir,"  Uncle  say  he  say, 
"You  ist  turn  round  an'  climb  wite  in 
That  wagon,  an'  drive  home  ag'in 
An'  bring  my  wife  back  wite  away, 
An*  we'll  trade  then— an'  not  before 
Will  I  unlock  my  cellar-door-^ 
20 


HIS  PA  S  ROMANCE 


Not  fer  your  wife's  sake  ner  your  own, 
But  my  wife's  sake — an'  her's  alone !" 


An',  Uncle  say,  it  don't  sound  like 
It's  so,  but  yet  it  is ! — He  say, 

21 


HIS   PA  S   ROMANCE 

From  wite  then,  somepin'  seem'  to  strike 

The  old  man's  funny-bone  some  way ; 

An',  minute  more,  that  team  o'  his 

Went  tearin'  down  the  road  k'whiz ! 

An'  in  the  same  two-forty  style 

Come  whizzin'  back !  An'  oh,  that-air 

Sweet  girl  a-cryin'  all  the  while, 

Thinkin'  about  her  Ma  there,  shet 

In  her  own  daughter's  cellar,  where 

1st  week  or  so  she's  kep'  house  there, 

She  hadn't  time  to  clean  it  yet ! 

So  when  her  Pa  an'  her  they  git 

There — an'  the  young  man  grab'  an'  kiss 

An'  hug  her,  till  she  make  him  quit 

An'  ask  him  where  her  mother  is. 

An'  then  he  smile'  an'  try  to  not ; 

Then  slow-like  find  th'  old  padlock  key, 

An'  blow  a*  oat-hull  out  of  it, 

An'  then  stoop  down  there  where  he's  got 

Her  Ma  locked  up  so  keerfully — 

An'  where,  wite  there,  he  say  he  thought 

22 


HIS   PA'S   ROMANCE 

It  ort  to  been  the  old  man— though 

Uncle,  he  say,  he  reckon  not — 

When  out  she  bounced,  all  tickled  so 

To  taste  fresh  air  again  an'  find 

Her  folks  wunst  more,  an'  grab'  her  child 

An'  cry  an'  laugh,  an'  even  go 

An'  hug  the  old  man ;  an'  he  wind 


HIS   PA'S  ROMANCE 


Her  in  his  arms,  an'  laugh,  an*  pat 
Her  back,  an*  say  he's  riconciled, 
In  such  a  happy  scene  as  that, 
To  swop  his  daughter  fer  her  Ma, 
An*  have  so  smart  a  son-in-law 
As  they  had !    "Yes,  an'  he's  my  Pa !" 
I  laugh'  an'  yell',  "Hooray-hooraw  P 


TWILIGHT  STORIES 

NEITHER  daylight,  starlight,  moonlight, 
But  a  sad-szveet  term  of  some  light 
By  the  saintly  name  of  Twilight. 


The  Grandma  Twilight  Stories!  —  Still, 

A  childish  listener,  I  hear 
The  katydid  and  whippoorwill, 

In  deepening  atmosphere 


TWILIGHT  STORIES 

Of  velvet  dusk,  blent  with  the  low 
Soft  music  of  the  voice  that  sings 

And  tells  me  tales  of  long  ago 
And  old  enchanted  things,  .  .  . 

While  far  fails  the  last  dim  daylight, 
And  the  fireflies  in  the  Twilight 
Drift  about  like  Hakes  of  starlight. 


ALMOST  BEYOND  ENDURANCE 

I  AIN'T  a-goin'  to  cry  no  more,  no  more ! 
I'm  got  ear-ache,  an'  Ma  can't  make 
It  quit  a-tall ; 

An'  Carlo  bite  my  rubber-ball 
An'  puncture  it ;  an'  Sis  she  take 
An'  poke'  my  knife  down  through  the  stable-floor 

An'  loozed  it — blame  it  all! 
But  I  ain't  goin'  to  cry  no  more,  no  more ! 

An'  Aunt  Mame  zvrote  she's  comin',  an'  she 

can't— 
Folks  is  come  there! — An'  I  don't  care 

She  is  my  Aunt ! 
An'  my  eyes  stings ;  an'  I'm 
1st  coughin'  all  the  time, 
27 


ALMOST  BEYOND  ENDURANCE 

An*  hurts  me  so,  an'  where  my  side's  so  sore 
Grampa  felt  where,  an'  he 
Says  "Mayby  it's  pleurasy!" 

But  I  ain't  goin'  to  cry  no  more,  no  more ! 


An*  I  clumbed  up  an'  nen  failed  off  the  fence, 
An'  Herbert  he  ist  laugh  at  me ! 
An'  my  fi'-cents 


ALMOST  BEYOND  ENDURANCE 

It  sticked  in  my  tin  bank,  an'  I  ist  tore 

Purt'-nigh  my  thumbnail  off,  a-tryin'  to  git 
It  out— nen  smash  it !— An'  it's  in  there  yit ! 

But  I  ain't  goin'  to  cry  no  more,  no  more ! 

Oo!  I'm  so  wickud !— An'  my  breath's  so  hot— 

Ist  like  I  run  an'  don't  res'  none 
But  ist  run  on  when  I  ought  to  not ; 

Yes,  an'  my  chin 

An'  lips  's  all  warpy,  an'  teeth's  so  fast, 
An'  's  a  place  in  my  throat  I  can't  swaller 
past — 

An*  they  all  hurt  so ! — 
An'  oh,  my-oh ! 
I'm  a-startin'  ag'in — 

I'm  z-startin'  ag'in,  but  I  won't,  f er  shore  !— 
I  ist  ain't  goin'  to  cry  no  more,  no  more! 


A  SIMPLE  RECIPE 

To  be  a  wholly  worthy  man, 
As  you,  my  boy,  would  like  to  be, — 

This  is  to  show  you  how  you  can — 
This  simple  recipe: — 

Be  honest — both  in  word  and  act, 

Be  strictly  truthful  through  and  through: 

Fact  cannot  fail. — You  stick  to  fact, 
And  fact  will  stick  to  you. 

Be  clean — outside  and  in,  and  sweep 
Both  hearth  and  heart  and  hold  them  bright ; 

Wear  snowy  linen — aye,  and  keep 
Your  conscience  snowy-white. 

Do  right,  your  utmost — good  must  come 
To  you  who  do  your  level  best — 

Your  very  hopes  will  help  you  some, 
And  work  will  do  the  rest. 
30 


THE  LISPER 


ELSIE  MINGUS  lisps,  she  does ! 
She  lives  wite  acrosst  from  us 

In  Miz.  Ayers'uz  house  'at  she 
Rents  part  to  the  Mingusuz. — 

Yes,  an*  Elsie  plays  wiv  me. 


Elsie  lisps  so,  she  can't  say 
Her  own  name,  ist  anyway! 


THE   LISPER 


She  says  "Elthy"— like  they  wuz 
Feathers  on  her  words  an'  they 
1st  stick  on  her  tongue  like  fuzz. 

My!  she  's  purty,  though! — An'  when 
She  lisps,  w'y,  she  's  purty  nen! 

When  she  telled  me,  wunst,  her  doll 
Wuz  so  "thweet,"  an'  I  p'ten' 

/  lisp  too,— she  laugh'— 'at  's  all  !— 

She  don't  never  git  mad  none — 
'Cause  she  know  I'm  ist  in  fun. — 

Elsie  she  ain't  one  bit  sp'iled. — 
Of  all  childerns — ever'  one — 

She's  the  ladylikest  child  !— 

My  Ma  say  she  is !   One  time 
Elsie  start  to  say  the  rhyme, 

"Thing  a  thong  o'  thixpenth"—  Wheel 
I  ist  yell!  An'  Ma  say  I'm 

Unpolite  as  I  can  be ! 
32 


THE   LISPER 

Wunst  I  went  wiv  Ma  to  call 
On  Elsie's  Ma,  an'  eat  an'  all ; 

An'  nen  Elsie,  when  we've  et, 
An'  we  're  playin'  in  the  hall, 

Elsie  say :    It  's  etikett 

Per  young  gentlemens,  like  me, 
Eatin'  when  they  's  company, 

Not  to  never  ever  crowd 
Down  their  food,  ner  "thip  their  tea 

Ner  thup  thoop  so  awful  loud  1" 


OUR  BETSY 

Us  childern  's  all  so  lonesome, 

We  hardly  want  to  play 
Or  skip  or  swing  or  anything, — 

'Cause  Betsy  she's  away! 

She's  gone  to  see  her  people 
At  her  old  home. — But  then — 

Oh !  every  child  '11  jist  be  wild 
When  she's  back  here  again! 

CHORUS 

Then  it  's  whoopty-doopty  dooden!- 

Whoopty-dooden  then! 
Oh!  it 's  whoopty-doopty  dooden, 

When  Betsy  's  back  again! 
34 


OUR   BETSY 

She's  like  a  mother  to  us, 
And  like  a  sister,  too — 

Oh !  she's  as  sweet  as  things  to  eat 
When  all  the  dinner  's  through ! 

And  hey !  to  hear  her  laughin'  I 
And  ho !  to  hear  her  sing  !— 

To  have  her  back  is  all  we  lack 
Of  havin'  everything! 


CHORUS 

Then  it  's  whoopty-doopty  dooden!- 

Whoopty-dooden  then! 
Oh!  it 's  whoopty-doopty  dooden, 

When  Betsy  's  back  again! 
35 


OUR  BETSY 

Oh !  some  may  sail  the  northern  lakes, 

And  some  to  foreign  lands, 
And  some  may  seek  old  Nameless  Creek, 

Or  India's  golden  sands ; 

Or  some  may  go  to  Kokomo, 

And  some  to  Mackinac, — 
But  I'll  go  down  to  Morgantown 

To  fetch  our  Betsy  back. 

CHORUS 

Then  it 's  whoopty-doopty  dooden! — 

Whoopty-dooden  then! 
Oh!  it 's  ivhoopty-doopty  dooden, 

When  Betsy  fs  back  again! 


THE  TOY-BALLOON 

THEY  wuz  a  Big  Day  wunst  in  town, 

An'  little  Jason's  Pa 
Buyed  him  a  little  toy-balloon, 

The  first  he  ever  saw. — 
An'  oh !  but  Jase  wuz  more'n  proud, 

A-holdin'  to  the  string 
An'  scrougin'  through  the  grea'-big  crowd, 

To  hear  the  Glee  Club  sing. 

The  Glee  Club  it  wuz  goin'  to  sing 

In  old  Masonic  Hall ; 
An'  Speakin',  it  wuz  in  there,  too, 

An'  soldiers,  folks  an'  all: 
An'  Jason's  Pa  he  git  a  seat 

An'  set  down  purty  soon, 
A-holdin'  little  Jase,  an'  him 

A-holdin'  his  balloon. 
37 


THE  TOY-BALLOON 

An'  while  the  Speakin'  's  startin'  up 

An'  ever'body  still — 
The  first  you  know  wuz  little  Jase 

A-yellin'  fit  to  kill!— 
Nen  Jason's  Pa  jump  on  his  seat 

An'  grab  up  in  the  air, — 
But  little  Jason's  toy-balloon 

Wuz  clean  away  from  there! 

An'  Jase  he  yelled ;  an'  Jase's  Pa, 

Still  lookin'  up,  dumb  down — 
While  that-air  little  toy-balloon 

Went  bumpin'  roun'  an'  roun' 
Ag'inst  the  ceilin',  'way  up  there 

Where  ever'body  saw, 
An'  they  all  yelled,  an'  Jason  yelled, 

An'  little  Jason's  Pa ! 

But  when  his  Pa  he  packed  him  out 

A-screamin' — nen  the  crowd 
Looked  down  an'  hushed — till  they  looked  up 

An'  howled  again  out  loud ; 

38 


THE  TOY-BALLOON 


An'  nen  the  speaker,  mad  an'  pale, 
Jist  turned  an'  left 'the  stand, 

An'  all  j'ined  in  the  Glee  Club— "Hail, 
Columby,  Happy  Land  1" 


39 


SOME  CHRISTMAS  YOUNGSTERS 

I 

THE  STRENGTH  OF  THE  WEAK 

LAST  Chris'mus,  little  Benny 

Wuzn't  sick  so  bad, — 
Now  he  's  had  the  worst  spell 

Ever  yet  he  had. 
Ever*  Chris'mus-morning,  though, 

He  '11  p'tend  as  if 
He  's  asleep — an'  first  you  know 

He  's  got  your  "Chris'mus-gif ' !" 

Pa  he  's  good  to  all  of  us 

All  the  time ;  but  when, 
Ever'  time  it 's  Chris'mus, 

He's  as  good  again ! — 
40 


SOME  CHRISTMAS   YOUNGSTERS 

'Sides  our  toys  an'  candy, 

Ever'  Chris'mus,  he 
Gives  us  all  a  quarter, 

Certain  as  can  be ! 


Pa,  this  morning,  tiptoe'  in 
To  make  the  fire,  you  know. 

Long  'fore  it 's  daylight, 
An*  all  's  ice  an'  snow ! — 
41 


SOME   CHRISTMAS   YOUNGSTERS 

An'  Benny  holler,  "Chrtfmus-gif!" 

An'  Pa  jump  an'  say, 
"You  '11  only  git  a  dollar  if 

You  skeer  me  thataway !" 


"  Where's  Santfs  home  at? 


42 


SOME   CHRISTMAS   YOUNGSTERS 


II 

THE  LITTLE  QUESTIONER 

BABE  she  's  so  always 

Wantin'  more  to  hear 
All  about  Santy  Claus, 

An'  says :  "Mommy  dear, 
Where  's  Santy's  home  at 

When  he  ain't  away? — 
An'  is  they  Missus  Santy  Claus 

An'  little  folks— say?— 
Chris'mus,  Santy  's  always  here- 

Don't  they  want  him,  too  ? 
When  it  ain't  Chris'mus 

What  does  he  do?" 


43 


SOME  CHRISTMAS  YOUNGSTERS 


III 

PARENTAL  CHRISTMAS  PRESENTS 

PARUNTS  don't  git  toys  an*  things, 

Like  you  'd  think  they  rather. — 
Mighty  funny  Chris'mus-gif's 

Parunts  gives  each  other ! — 
Pa  give  Ma  a  barrel  o'  flour. 

An*  Ma  she  give  to  Pa 
The  nicest  dinin'-table 

She  know  he  ever  saw ! 


44 


OLD  GRANNY  DUSK 

OLD  Granny  Dusk,  when  the  sun  goes  down, 

Here  she  comes  into  thish-yer  town ! 

Out  o'  the  wet  black  woods  an'  swamps 

In  she  traipses  an'  trails  an'  tromps — 

With  her  old  sunbonnet  all  floppy  an'  brown, 

An'  her  cluckety  shoes,  an'  her  old  black  gown, 

Here  she  comes  into  thish-yer  town ! 


45 


OLD   GRANNY  DUSK 

Old  Granny  Dusk,  when  the  bats  begin 
To  flap  around,  comes  a-trompin'  in ! 
An'  the  katydids  they  rasp  an'  whir, 
An*  the  lightnin'-bugs  all  blink  at  her; 
An'  the  old  Hop-toad  turns  in  his  thumbs, 
An'  the  bunglin'  June-bug  booms  an'  bums, 
An'  the  Bullfrog  croaks,  "O  here  she  comes !" 

Old  Granny  Dusk,  though  I'm  'feard  o'  you, 

Shore-fer-certain  I'm  sorry,  too: 

'Cause  you  look  as  lonesome  an'  starved  an'  sad 

As  a  mother  'at's  lost  ever'  child  she  had. — 

Yet  never  a  child  in  thish-yer  town 

Clings  at  yer  hand  er  yer  old  black  gown, 

Er  kisses  the  face  you  're  a-bendin'  down. 


-46 


THE  YOUNG  OLD  MAN 


VOLUNTARY  BY  ARTLESS  "LITTLE  BROTHER" 


MAMMA  is  a  widow :  there's  only  us  three — 
Our  pretty  Mamma,  little  sister,  and  me: 
And  we  Ve  come  to  live  in  this  new  neighborhood 
Where  all  seems  so  quiet,  old-fashioned  and  good. 
Mamma  sits  and  sews  at  the  window,  and  I — 
I  'm  out  at  the  gate  when  an  old  man  goes  by — 
Such  a  lovely  old  man, — though  I  can't  tell  you 

why, 

Unless  it's  his  greeting, — "Good  morning! 
Good  morning!  good  morning!"  the  old  man 

will  say, — 

"Fine  bracing  weather  we're  having  to-day! — 
47 


THE  YOUNG  OLD   MAN 

And  how  's  little  brother — 
And  sister — and  mother? — 
So  dear  to  each  other ! — 
Good  morning  1" 

The  old  man  goes  by,  in  his  glossy  high-hat, 
And  stripe-trousers  creased,  and  all  turned-up,  at 

that, 
And  his  glancing  nose-glasses— and  pleasantest 

eyes, 

As  he  smiles  on  me,  always  in  newer  surprise : 
And  though  his  mustache  is  as  white  as  the 

snow, 
He  wears  it  waxed  out  and  all  pointed,  you 

know, 
And  gloves,  and  high  collar  and  bright,  jaunty 

bow, 

And  stylish  umbrella. — "Good  morning! 
48 


THE   YOUNG  OLD   MAN 

Good  morning!  good  morning!"  the  old  man 

will  say, — 

"Fine    falling    weather    we're    promised    to 
day!— 

And  how  's  little  brother — 
And  sister — and  mother  ? — 
So  fond  of  each  other ! — 
Good  morning!" 


It's    Christmas! — it's    Christmas!    and    oh,    but 

we're  gay ! 
The  postman's  been  here,  and  Ma  says,  "Run  and 

play:— 
You  must  leave  your  Mamma  to  herself  for  a 

while!" 
And  so  sweet  is  her  voice,  and  so  tender  her 

smile ! — 
And   she   looks  so   pretty   and  happy   and — 

Well  !— 

She  's  just  too  delicious  for  language  to  tell ! — 
49 


THE  YOUNG  OLD  MAN 

So  Sis  hugs  her  more — and  /  answer  the  bell, — 
And  there  in  the  doorway — "Good  morn 
ing! — 
Good  morning !  good  morning !  good  morning, 

I  say ! — 

Fine    Christmas    weather    we're    having    to 
day! — 

And  how  's  little  brother — 
Dear  sister — er,  ruther — 
Why,  here  is  your  mother.  .  .  . 
Good  morning!" 


WHEN  UNCLE  DOC  WAS  YOUNG 


THOUGH  Doctor  Glenn — the  best  of  men — 

Is  wrinkled,  old,  and  gray, 
He  '11  always  smile  and  stop  awhile 

Where  little  children  play: 


WHEN    UNCLE  DOC   WAS   YOUNG 

And  often  then  he  tells  us,  when 
He  was  a  youngster,  too, 

He  was  as  glad  and  bad  a  lad 
As  old  folks  ever  knew  ! 


As  he  walks  down,  no  boy  in  town 

But  sees  him  half  a  block, 
And  stops  to  shout  a  welcome  out 

With  "Here  comes  Uncle  Doc  !" 
Then  all  the  rest,  they  look  their  best 

As  he  lines  up  among 
.Us  boys  of  ten  —  each  thinking  then 

When  Uncle  Doc  was  young. 

We  run  to  him!  —  Though  grave  and  grim, 
With  voice  pitched  high  and  thin, 

He  still  reveals  the  joy  he  feels 
In  all  that  he  has  been  : 


WHEN    UNCLE  DOC   WAS   YOUNG 

With  heart  too  true,  and  honest,  too, 

To  ever  hide  a  truth, 
He  frankly  owns,  in  laughing  tones, 

He  was  "a  sorry  youth !" — 


When  he  was  young,  he  says,  he  sung 

And  howled  his  level-best; 
He  says  he  guyed,  and  sneaked,  and  lied, 

And  wrecked  the  robin's  nest. — 
53 


WHEN    UNCLE  DOC   WAS  YOUNG 

And  this,  and  worse,  will  he  rehearse, 
Then  smooth  his  snowy  locks 

And  look  the  saint  he  says  he  ain't.     . 
Them  eyes  of  Uncle  Doc's ! 

He  says,  when  he — like  you  and  me — 

Was  just  too  low  and  mean 
To  slap  asleep,  he  used  to  weep 

To  find  his  face  was  clean : 
His  hair,  he  said,  was  just  too  red 

To  tell  with  mortal  tongue — 
"The  Burning  Shame"  was  his  nickname 

When  Uncle  Doc  was  young. 


54 


BILLY  MILLER'S  CIRCUS-SHOW 

AT  Billy  Miller's  Circus-Show— 
In  their  old  stable  where  it's  at — 

The  boys  pays  twenty  pins  to  go, 

An'  gits  their  money's-worth  at  that  !- 


'Cause  Billy  he  can  climb  and  chalk 
His  stockin'-feet  an'  purt'-nigh  walk 
A  tight-rope — yes,  an'  ef  he  fall 
He'll  ketch,  an'  "skin  a  cat"— -'at's  all ! 
55 


BILLY  MILLER'S  CIRCUS-SHOW 

He  ain't  afeard  to  swing  and  hang 
1st  by  his  legs ! — an'  mayby  stop 

An'  yell  "Look  out !"  an'  nen — k-spang ! — 
He'll  let  loose,  upside-down,  an'  drop 
Wite  on  his  hands !    An'  nen  he'll  do 
"Contortion-acts" — ist  limber  through 
As  "Injarubber  Mens"  'at  goes 
With  shore-fer-certain  circus-shows! 

At  Billy  Miller's  Circus-Show 
He's  got  a  circus-ring — an'  they's 

A  dressin'-room, — so's  he  can  go 
An'  dress  an'  paint  up  when  he  plays 
He's  somepin'  else  ; — 'cause  sometimes  he's 
"Ringmaster" — bossin'  like  he  please — 
An'  sometimes  "Ephalunt" — er  "Bare- 
Back  Rider,"  prancin'  out  o'  there ! 

An'  sometimes — an'  the  best  of  all ! — 
He's  "The  Old  Clown,"  an'  got  on  clo'es 

All  stripud, — an'  white  hat,  all  tall 

An'  peakud — like  in  shore-'nuff  shows, — • 

56 


BILLY  MILLER'S  CIRCUS-SHOW 


An'  got  three-cornered  red-marks,  too, 
On  his  white  cheeks — ist  like  they  do ! — 
An'  you'd  ist  die,  the  way  he  sings 
An'  dances  an'  says  funny  things ! 


57 


THE  LAW  OF  THE  PERVERSE 

WHERE  did  the  custom  come  from,  anyway? — 
Sending  the  boys  to  "play,"  at  dinner-time, 

When  we  have  company  ?  What  is  there,  pray, 
About  the  starched,  unmalleable  guest 
That,  in  the  host's  most  genial  interest, 

Finds  him  first  favor  on  Thanksgiving  Day 
Beside  the  steaming  turkey,  with  its  wings 
Akimbo  over  all  the  savory  things 
It  has  been  stuffed  with,  yet  may  never  thus 
Make  one  poor  boy's  face  glad  and  glorious ! 

Fancy  the  exiled  boy  in  the  back-yard, 
Ahungered  so  that  any  kind  of  grub 

Were  welcome,  yet  with  face  set  stern  and  hard, 
Hearing  the  feasters'  laugh  and  mild  hubbub, 
And  wanting  to  kill  something  with  a  club ! — 

58 


THE  LAW   OF  THE  PERVERSE 


Intuitively  arguing  the  unjust 
Distinction,  as  he  naturally  must, — 
The  guest  with  all  the  opportunity, — 
The  boy  with  all  the  appetite !  Ah,  me ! 


So  is  it  that  when  I,  a  luckless  guest, 

Am  thus  arraigned  at  banquet,  I  sit  grim 

And  sullen,  eating  nothing  with  a  zest, 

With  smirking  features,  yet  a  soul  distressed, 
Missing  the  banished  boy  and  envying  him — 

Aye,  longing  for  a  spatter  on  my  vest 

From  his  deflecting  spoon,  and  yearning  for 
The  wild  swoop  of  his  lips  insatiate,  or 
His  ever-ravenous,  marauding  eye 
Fore-eating  everything  from  soup  to  pie ! 


59 


CHAIRLEY  BURKE 

IT'S  Chairley  Burke's  in  town,  b'ys!  He's  down 
til  "Jamesy's  Place," 

Wid  a  bran'-new  shave  upon  'urn,  an'  the  fhwhus- 
kers  aff  his  face ; 

He's  quit  the  Section  Gang  last  night,  an'  yez  can 
chalk  it  down 

There  's  goin'  to  be  the  divil's  toime,  sence  Chair- 
ley  Burke's  in  town. 

It's  treatin'  iv'ry  b'y  he  is,  an'  poundin'  on  the  bar 
Till  iv'ry  man  he's  drinkin'  wid  must  shmoke  a 

foine  cigar ; 
An'  Missus  Murphy's  little  Kate,  that's  comin' 

there  for  beer, 
Can't  pay  wan  cint  the  bucketful,  the  whilst  that 

Chairley's  here! 

60 


CHAIRLEY   BURKE 

He's  joompin'  oor  the  tops  o'  sthools,  the  both 

forninst  an'  back ! 
He'll  lave  yez  pick  the  blessed  flure,  an'  walk  the 

straightest  crack ! 
He's  liftin'   barrels   wid  his  teeth,   and   singin' 

"Garry  Owen" 
Till  all  the  house  be  strikin'  hands,  sence  Chairley 

Burke's  in  town. 

The  Road-Yaird  hands  comes  dhroppin'  in,  an' 

never  goin'  back ; 
An'  there's  two  freights  upon  the  switch — the 

wan  on  aither  track — 
An'    Mr.    Gearry,    from   The    Shops,   he's   mad 

enough  to  swear, 
An'  durst  n't  spake  a  word  but  grin,  the  whilst 

that  Chairley's  there ! 
Och!  Chairley! — Chairley! — Chairley  Burke!  ye 

divil,  wid  yer  ways 
O'  dhrivin'  all  the  troubles  aff,  these  dark  an' 

gloomy  days ! 

6l 


CHAIRLEY  BURKE 


Ohone !  that  it's  meself ,  wid  all  the  griefs  I  have 

to  dhrown, 
Must  lave  me  pick  to  resht  a  bit,  sence  Chairjey 

Burke's  in  town ! 


SONG— THE  OLD  MAN  OF  THE  SEA 

I'm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea— I  am ! — 

And  this  is  my  secret  pride, 
That  I  have  a  hundred  shapes,  all  sham, 

And  a  hundred  names  besides : 
They  have  named  me  "Habit,"  and  "Way,"  for 
sooth, 

"Capricious,"  and  "Fancy-free" ; — 
But  to  you,  O  Youth,  I  confess  the  truth, — 

I'm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea. 

I'm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea,  yo-ho! 

So  lift  up  a  song  with  me, 
As  I  sit  on  the  throne  of  your  shoulders,  alone, 

I'm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea. 
63 


SONG THE  OLD   MAN   OF  THE   SEA 

Crowned  with  the  crown  of  your  noblest  thought, 

I'm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea : 
I  reign,  rule,  ruin,  and  palter  not 

In  my  pitiless  tyranny : 
You,  my  lad,  are  my  gay  Sindbad, 

Frisking  about,  with  me 
High  on  the  perch  I  have  always  had — 

I'm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea. 


SONG — THE   OLD    MAN   OF   THE   SEA 

I'm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea,  yo-ho! 

So  lift  up  a  song  with  me, 
As  I  sit  on  the  throne  of  your  shoulders,  alone, 

I'm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea. 

Tricked  in  the  guise  of  your  best  intent, 

I  am  your  failures — all — 
I  am  the  victories  you  invent, 

And  your  high  resolves  that  fall: 
I  am  the  vow  you  are  breaking  now 

As  the  wassail-bowl  swings  free 
And  the  red  guilt  flushes  your  cheek  and  brow- 

Fm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea. 

I'm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea,  yo-ho  I 

So  lift  up  a  song  with  me, 
As  I  sit  on  the  throne  of  your  shoulders,  alone, 

I'm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea. 
65 


SONG — THE  OLD   MAN   OF  THE   SEA 

I  am  your  false  dreams  of  success 

And  your  mythical  future  fame — 
Your  life-long  lies,  and  your  soul's  distress 

And  your  slowly-dying  shame : 
I'm  the  chattering  half  of  your  latest  laugh, 

And  your  tongue's  last  perfidy— 
Your  doom,  your  tomb,  and  your  epitaph     .    . 

I'm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea. 

I'm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea,  yo-ho! 

So  lift  up  a  song  with  me, 
As  I  sit  on  the  throne  of  your  shoulders,  alone, 

I'm  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea. 


66 


AT  NINETY  IN  THE  SHADE 

HOT  weather  ?    Yes ;  but  really  not, 
Compared  with  weather  twice  as  hot. 
Find  comfort,  then,  in  arguing  thus, 
And  you'll  pull  through  victorious ! — 
For  instance,  while  you  gasp  and  pant 
And  try  to  cool  yourself — and  can't — 
With  soda,  cream  and  lemonade, 
The  heat  at  ninety  in  the  shade, — 
Just  calmly  sit  and  ponder  o'er 
These  same  degrees,  with  ninety  more 
On  top  of  them,  and  so  concede 
The  weather  now  is  cool  indeed ! 
Think — as  the  perspiration  dews 
Your  fevered  brow,  and  seems  to  ooze 
From  out  the  ends  of  every  hair — 
Whole  floods  of  it,  with  floods  to  spare — 


AT   NINETY    IN   THE   SHADE 

Think,  I  repeat,  the  while  the  sweat 
Pours  down  your  spine — how  hotter  yet 
Just  ninety  more  degrees  would  be, 
And  bear  this  ninety  patiently ! 
Think — as  you  mop  your  brow  and  hair, 
With  sticky  feelings  everywhere — 
How  ninety  more  degrees  increase 


68 


AT   NINETY   IN   THE    SHADE 

Of  heat  like  this  would  start  the  grease  ; 
Or,  think,  as  you  exhausted  stand, 
A  wilted  "palmleaf"  in  each  hand — 
When  the  thermometer  has  done 
With  ease  the  lap  of  ninety-one ; 
O  think,  I  say,  what  heat  might  do 
At  one  hundred  and  eighty-two — 
Just  twice  the  heat  you  now  declare, 
Complainingly,  is  hard  to  bear. 
Or,  as  you  watch  the  mercury 
Mount,  still  elate,  one  more  degree, 
And  doff  your  collar  and  cravat, 
And  rig  a  sponge  up  in  your  hat, 
And  ask  Tom,  Harry,  Dick  or  Jim, 
If  this  is  hot  enough  for  him— 
Consider  how  the  sun  would  pour 
At  one  hundred  and  eighty-four— 
Just  twice  the  heat  that  seems  to  be 
Affecting  you  unpleasantly, 
The  very  hour  that  you  might  find 
As  cool  as  dew,  were  you  inclined. 

69 


AT   NINETY   IN   THE   SHADE 

But  why  proceed  when  none  will  heed 
Advice  apportioned  to  the  need  ? 
Hot  weather  ?    Yes ;  but  really  not, 
Compared  with  weather  twice  as  hot ! 


GOOD-BYE  ER  HOWDY-DO 

Say  good-bye  er  howdy-do — 
What 's  the  odds  betwixt  the  two  ? 
Comin' — goin' — every  day — 
Best  friends  first  to  go  away — 
Grasp  of  hands  you  'd  ruther  hold 
Than  their  weight  in  solid  gold, 
Slips  their  grip  while  greetin'  you. — 
Say  good-bye  er  howdy-do? 

Howdy-do,  and  then,  good-bye — 
Mixes  jist  like  laugh  and  cry; 
Deaths  and  births,  and  worst  and  best, 
Tangled  their  contrariest ; 
Ev'ry  jinglin'  weddin'-bell 
Skeerin'  up  some  funer'l  knell. — 
Here's  my  song,  and  there's  your  sigh, 
Howdy-do,  and  then,  good-bye! 

71 


GOOD-BYE   ER   HOWDY-DO 

Say  good-bye  er  howdy-do — 
Jist  the  same  to  me  and  you ; 
'Taint  worth  while  to  make  no  fuss, 
'Cause  the  job's  put  up  on  us! 
Some  One's  runnin'  this  concern 
That's  got  nothin'  else  to  learn : 
If  He's  willin',  we'll  pull  through — 
Say  good-bye  er  howdy-do ! 


A  LOCAL  POLITICIAN  FROM 
AWAY  BACK 

JEDGE  is  good  at  argyin' — 

No  mistake  in  that ! 
Most  folks  'at  tackles  him 

He'll  skin  'em  like  a  cat ! 
You  see,  the  Jedge  is  read  up, 

And  ben  in  politics, 
Hand-in-glove,  you  might  say, 

Sense  back  in  '56. 

Elected  to  the  Shurrif,  first, 

Then  elected  Clerk ; 
Went  into  lawin'  then, 

And  buckled  down  to  work ; 
73 


A   LOCAL  POLITICIAN    FROM   AWAY  BACK 

Practiced  three  or  four  terms, 
Then  he  run  for  jedge — 

Speechified  a  little,  'round, 
And  went  in  like  a  wedge ! 

Run  fer  Legislatur'  twic't — 

Made  her,  ever'  pop ! 
Keeps  on  the  way  he's  doin', 

Don't  know  where  he'll  stop! 
Some  thinks  he's  got  his  eye 

On  the  govnership ; — 
Well,  ef  he  tuk  the  track, 

Guess  he'd  make  the  trip ! 

But  I  started  out  to  tell  you — 

(Now  I  allus  liked  the  man — 
Not  fer  his  politics, 

But  social',  understan'  1 — 
Fer,  's  regards  to  my  views, 

Political  and  sich, — 
When  we  come  together  there 

We're  purty  ap'  to  hitch.) 
74 


A   LOCAL  POLITICIAN   FROM   AWAY  BACK 

Ketched  him  in  at  Knox's  shop 

On'y  t'other  day — 
Gittin'  shaved,  the  Jedge  wuz, 

Er  somepin'  that  away. — 
Well,  I  tetched  him  up  some 

On  the  silver  bill : — 
Jedge  says,  "I  won't  discuss  it ;" 

7  says,  "You  will!" 


I-says-ee,  "I  reckon 

You'll  concede  with  me, 
Coin's  the  on'y  ginuine 

Money,"  I-says-ee ; 
75 


A  LOCAL  POLITICIAN  FROM   AWAY  BACK 

Says  I,  "What's  a  dollar-bill?" 

Says  I,  "What's  a  ten— 
Er  forty-leven  hunderd  of  'em? — 

Give  us  specie,  then !" 

I  seed  I  was  a  gittin' 

The  Jedge  kindo'  red 
Around  the  gills.    He  hawked  some 

And  cle'red  his  throat  and  said ! — 
"Facts  is  too  complicated 

'Bout  the  bill  in  view," 
Squirmed  and  told  the  barber  then 

He  wisht  he'd  hurry  through. 

'LI,  then,  I  knowed  I  had  him, — 

And  the  crowd  around  the  fire 
Was  all  a-winkin'  at  me, 

As  the  barber  raised  him  higher — 
Says  I,  "Jedge,  what's  a  dollar? — 

Er  a  half-un,"  I-says-ee — 
"What's  a  quarter?— What's  a  dime?" 

"What's  cents?"  says  he. 
76 


A  LOCAL  POLITICIAN  FROM   AWAY  BACK 

W'y  I  had  him  fairly  b'ilin'! 

"You  needn't  comb  my  hair," 
He  says  to  the  barber — 

"I  want  fresh  air;" 
And  you'd  a-died  a-laughin' 

To  a-seed  him  grab  his  hat, 
As  I-says-ee,  says  I,  "Jedge, 

Where  you  goin'  at!" 

Jedge  is  good  at  argyin', 

By-and-large ;  and  yit, 
Beat  him  at  his  own  game 

And  he's  goin'  to  git ! 
And  yit  the  Jedge  is  read  up, 

And  ben  in  politics, 
Hand-in-glove,  you  might  say, 

Sence  back  in  '56. 


77 


NEVER  TALK  BACK 

NEVER  talk  back!  sich  things  is  repperhensible ; 
A  feller  only  hurts  hisse'f  that  jaws  a  man 

that's  hot ; 
In  a  quarrel,  ef  you'll  only  keep  your  mouth  shet 

and  act  sensible, 

The  man  that  does  the  talkin'  '11  git  worsted 
every  shot! 

Never  talk  back  to  a  feller  that's  abusin'  you — 
Jest  let  him  carry  on,  and  rip,  and  snort,  and 

swear ; 
And  when  he  finds  his  blamin'  and  defamin'  's 

jest  amusin'  you, 

You've  got  him  clean  kaflummixed, — and  you 
want  to  hold  him  there ! 
78 


NEVER  TALK   BACK 

Never  talk  back,  and  wake  up  the  whole  com 
munity 

And  call  a  man  a  liar,  over  Law,  er  Politics. — 
You  can  lilt  and  land  him  furder  and  with  grace- 
fuller  impunity 

With  one  good  jolt  of  silence  than  half  a  dozen 
kicks! 


79 


"A  BRAVE  REFRAIN" 

WHEN  snow  is  here,  and  the  trees  look  weird, 

And  the  knuckled  twigs  are  gloved  with  frost ; 
When  the  breath  congeals  in  the  drover's  beard, 

And  the  old  pathway  to  the  barn  is  lost ; 
When  the  rooster's  crow  is  sad  to  hear, 

And  the  stamp  of  the  stabled  horse  is  vain, 
And  the  tone  of  the  cow-bell  grieves  the  ear — 

O  then  is  the  time  for  a  brave  refrain ! 

When  the  gears  hang  stiff  on  the  harness-peg, 

And  the  tallow  gleams  in  frozen  streaks; 
And  the  old  hen  stands  on  a  lonesome  leg, 
And  the  pump  sounds  hoarse  and  the  handle 
squeaks ; 

80 


When  the  woodpile  lies  in  a  shrouded  heap, 
And  the  frost  is  scratched  from  the  window- 
pane, 

And  anxious  eyes  from  the  inside  peep — 
O  then  is  the  time  for  a  brave  refrain ! 


When  the  ax-helve  warms  at  the  chimney- jamb ! 

And  hob-nailed  shoes  on  the  hearth  below, 
And  the  house-cat  curls  in  a  slumber  calm, 

And  the  eight-day  clock  ticks  loud  and  slow; 
81 


When  the  harsh  broom-handle  jabs  the  ceil 
'Neath  the  kitchen-loft,  and  the  drowsy  brain 

Sniffs  the  breath  of  the  morning  meal — 
O  then  is  the  time  for  a  brave  refrain ! 

ENVOI. 

When  the  skillet  seethes,  and  a-blubbering  hot 

Tilts  the  lid  of  the  coffee-pot, 

And  the  scent  of  the  buckwheat  cake  grows 

plain — 
O  then  is  the  time  for  a  brave  refrain ! 


ME  AND  MARY 

ALL  my  feelin's  in  the  Spring 

Gits  so  blame  contrary, 
I  can't  think  of  anything 
Only  me  and  Mary ! 
"Me  and  Mary !"  all  the  time, 
"Me  and  Mary!"  like  a  rhyme, 
Keeps  a-dingin'  on  till  I'm 
Sick  o'  "Me  and  Mary!" 

"Me  and  Mary!    Ef  us  two 

Only  was  together — 
Playin'  like  we  used  to  do 

In  the  Aprile  weather!" 
All  the  night  and  all  the  day 
I  keep  wishin'  thataway 
Till  I'm  gittin*  old  and  gray 
Jes  on  "Me  and  Mary!" 


ME  AND   MARY 

Muddy  yit  along  the  pike 

Sence  the  Winter's  freezing 

And  the  orchard's  back'ard-like 
Bloomin'  out  this  season ; 

Only  heerd  one  bluebird  yit — 

Nary  robin  ner  tomtit ; 

What's  the  how  and  why  of  it? 
'Spect  it's  "Me  and  Mary!" 

Me  and  Mary  liked  the  birds — 

That  is,  Mary  sorto' 
Liked  'em  first,  and  afterwards, 

W'y,  I  thought  I'd  ort'o. 
And  them  birds — ef  Mary  stood 
Right  here  with  me,  like  she  should — 
They'd  be  singin',  them  birds  would, 

All  fer  me  and  Mary. 

Birds  er  not,  I'm  hopin'  some 

I  can  git  to  plowin' ! 
Ef  the  sun'll  only  come, 

And  the  Lord  allowing 


ME   AND   MARY 

Guess  to-morry  I'll  turn  in 
And  git  down  to  work  ag'in ; 
This  here  loaferin'  won't  win, 
Not  fer  me  and  Mary ! 

Fer  a  man  that  loves,  like  me, 

And's  afeard  to  name  it, 
Till  some  other  feller,  he 

Gits  the  girl — dad-shame-it! 
Wet  er  dry,  er  clouds  er  sun — 
Winter  gone  er  jes  begun — 
Outdoor  work  fer  me  er  none, 
No  more  "Me  and  Mary  I" 


FIRE  AT  NIGHT 

FIRE!     Fire!     Ring!  and  ring! 
Hear  the  old  bell  bang  and  ding ! 
Fire!    Fire!  'way  at  night, — 
Can't  you  hear  ? — I  think  you  might  !- 


Can't  hear  them-air  clangin'  bells? — 
W'y,  /  can't  hear  nothin'  else ! 
Fire !    Ain't  you  'wake  at  last ! — 
Hear  them  horses  pouniin'  past — 
86 


FIRE  AT   NIGHT 

Hear  that  ladder-wagon  grind 
Round  the  corner! — and,  behind, 
Hear  the  hose-cart,  turnin'  short, 
And  the  horses  slip  and  snort, 
As  the  engine's  clank-and-jar 
Jolts  the  whole  street,  near  and  far. 
Fire!    Fire!    Fire!    Fire! 
Can't  you  hist  that  winder  higher? 
La !  they've  all  got  past  like  "scat !" 
Night's  as  black  as  my  old  hat— 
And  it's  rainin',  too,  at  that !    .    .    * 
Wonder  where  their  old  fire's  at! 


A  FALL-CRICK  VIEW  OF  THE 
EARTHQUAKE 

I  kin  hump  my  back  and  take  the  rain, 

And  I  don't  keer  how  she  pours ; 
I  kin  keep  kindo'  ca'm  in  a  thunder-storm, 

No  matter  how  loud  she  roars ; 
I  hain't  much  skeered  o'  the  lightnin', 

Ner  I  hain't  sich  awful  shakes 
Afeard  o'  cyclones — but  I  don't  want  none 

O'  yer  dad-burned  old  earthquakes ! 

As  long  as  my  legs  keeps  stiddy, 
And  long  as  my  head  keeps  plum', 

And  the  buildin'  stays  in  the  front  lot, 
I  still  kin  whistle,  some! 
88 


A  FALL  CRICK  VIEW   OF  THE  EARTHQUAKE 

But  about  the  time  the  old  clock 

Flops  off 'n  the  mantel-shelf, 
And  the  bureau  skoots  fer  the  kitchen, 

I'm  a-goin'  to  skoot,  myself! 


Plague-take!  ef  you  keep  me  stabled 
While  any  earthquakes  is  around! — 

I'm  jist  like  the  stock,— I'll  beller 
And  break  fer  the  open  ground! 
89 


A  FALL  CRICK  VIEW  OF  THE  EARTHQUAKE 

And  I  'low  you'd  be  as  nervous, 

And  in  jist  about  my  fix, 
When  yer  whole  farm  slides  from  inunder  you, 

And  on'y  the  mor'gage  sticks! 

Now  cars  hain't  a-goin'  to  kill  you 

Ef  you  don't  drive  'crost  the  track ; 
Crediters  never '11  jerk  you  up 

Ef  you  go  and  pay  'em  back ; 
You  kin  stand  all  moral  and  mundane  storms 

Ef  you'll  on'y  jist  behave- 
But  a'  EARTHQUAKE  :— well,  ef  it  wanted  you 

It  'ud  husk  you  out  o'  yer  grave ! 


90 


MR.  SILBERBERG 

AND   LITTLE  JULIUS 

I  LIKE  me  yet  dot  leedle  chile 
Vich  climb  my  lap  up  in  to-day, 
Unt  took  my  cheap  cigair  avay, 

Unt  laugh  and  kiss  me  purty-whvile,- 


MR.    SILBERBERG 

Possescially  I  like  dose  mout* 
Vich  taste  his  moder's  like — unt  so 

Eef  my  cigair  it  gone  clean  out 
— Yust  let  it  go ! 

Vat  I  caire  den  for  anyding? 

Der  "HERALDT"  schlip  out  fon  my  handt 
Unt  all  my  odvairtizement  standt 
Mitout  new  changements  boddering: 
I  only  t'ink — I  haf  me  dis 

Von  leedle  boy  to  pet  unt  love 
Unt  play  me  vit,  unt  hug  unt  kiss — 
Unt  dot's  enough ! 

Der  plans  unt  pairposes  I  vear 
Out  in  der  vorld  all  fades  avay, 
Unt  vit  der  beeznis  of  der  day 
I  got  me  den  no  time  to  spaire ; 

Der  caires  of  trade  vas  caires  no  more — 
Dem  cash  accounts  dey  dodge  me  by, 
Unt  vit  my  chile  I  roll  der  floor, 
Unt  laugh  unt  gry ! 
92 


MR.  SILBERBERG 

Ach !  f rient !  dem  childens  is  der  ones 
Dot  got  some  happy  times — you  bet ! — 
Dot 's  vy  ven  I  been  growed  up  yet 
I  visht  I  shtill  been  leedle  vonce  I 
Unt  ven  dot  leedle  roozter  tries 
Dem  baby-tricks  I  used  to  do, 
My  mout  it  vater,  unt  my  eyes 
Dey  vater  too ! 

Unt  all  der  summertime  unt  spring 
Of  chilehoodt  it  come  back  to  me, 
So  dot  it  vas  a  dream  I  see 
Ven  I  yust  look  at  anyt'ingl 
Unt  ven  dot  leedle  boy  run  by, 

I  t'ink  "Dot's  me,  fon  hour  to  hour 
Schtill  chasing  yet  dose  butterfly 
Fon  flower  to  flower !" 

Oxpose  I  vas  lots  money  vairt, 

Mit  blenty  schtone-front  sc'htore  to  rent, 
Unt  mor 'gages  at  twelf  per  tcent., 

Unt  diamonds  in  my  ruffledt  shairt, — 
93 


MR.    SILBERBERG 


I  make  alignment  of  all  dot, 
Unt  tairn  it  over  mit  a  schmile 

Aber  you  please — but,  don'd  forgot, 
I  keep  dot  chile! 


94 


SPIRITS  AT  HOME 

THE  FAMILY 

THERE  was  Father,  and  Mother,  and  Emmy,  and 
Jane, 

And  Lou,  and  Ellen,  and  John  and  me — 
And  father  was  killed  in  the  war,  and  Lou 
She  died  of  consumption,  and  John  did  too, 

And  Emmy  she  went  with  the  pleurisy. 

THE  SPIRITS 

Father  believed  in  'em  all  his  life — 

But  Mother,  at  first,  she'd  shake  her  head — 

Till  after  the  battle  of  Champion  Hill, 

When  many  a  flag-  in  the  winder-sill 

Had  crape  mixed  in  with  the  white  and  red ! 

95 


SPIRITS   AT    HOME 

I  used  to  doubt  'em  myself  till  then — 

But  me  and  Mother  was  satisfied 
When  Ellen  she  set,  and  Father  came 
And  rapped  "God  Bless  You!"  and  Mother's 

name, 

And  "The  flag's  up  Here!"    And  we  just  all 
cried. 


Used  to  come  often,  after  that, 

And  talk  to  us — just  as  he  used  to  do, 
Pleasantest  kind !    And  once,  for  John, 
He  said  he  was  "lonesome  but  wouldn't  let  on — 
Fear  mother  would   worry,   and   Emmy   and 
Lou." 

But  Lou  was  the  bravest  girl  on  earth — 
For  all  she  never  was  hale  and  strong, 
She'd  have  her  fun! — With  her  voice  clean  lost 
She'd  laugh  and  joke  us  that  "when  she  crossed 
To  Father,  we'd  all  come  taggin'  along !" 

96 


SPIRITS    AT    HOME 

Died — just  that  way !    And  the  raps  was  thick 

That  night,  as  they  often  since  occur, 
Extry  loud !    And  when  Lou  got  back 
She  said  it  was  Father  and  her — and  "whack !" 
She  tuck  the  table — and  we  knowed  her! 


John  and  Emmy,  in  five  years  more, 

Both  had  went. — And  it  seemed  like  fate!- 

For  the  old  home  it  burnt  down, — but  Jane 

And  me  and  Ellen  we  built  again 
The  new  house  here  on  the  old  estate. 


And  a  happier  family  I  don't  know 

Of  anywheres — unless  it's  them, — 
Father,  with  all  his  love  for  Lou, 
And  her  there  with  him,  and  healthy,  too, 
And  laughin',  with  John  and  little  Em. 

97 


SPIRITS  AT  HOME 

And,  first  we  moved  in  the  new  house  here, 
They  all  dropped  in  for  a  long  pow-wow, 
"We  like  your  buildin',  of  course,"  Lou  said, — 
"But  wouldn't  swop  with  you  to  save  your  head — 
For  we  live  in  the  ghost  of  the  old  house  now !" 


A  HINT  OF  SPRING 

'TWAS  but  a  hint  of  Spring — for  still 
The  atmosphere  was  sharp  and  chill, 
Save  where  the  genial  sunshine  smote 
The  shoulders  of  my  overcoat, 
And  o'er  the  snow  beneath  my  feet 
Laid  spectral  fences  down  the  street. 

My  shadow  even  seemed  to  be 

Elate  with  some  new  buoyancy, — 

It  bowed  and  bobbed  in  my  advance 

With  trippingest  extravagance, 

And,  when  the  birds  chirpt  out  somewhere, 

It  seemed  to  wheel  with  me  and  stare. 

Above  I  heard  a  rasping  stir— 
And  on  the  roof  the  carpenter 
99 


A   HINT  OF   SPRING 

Was  perched,  and  prodding  rusty  leaves 
From  out  the  choked  and  dripping  eaves— 
And  some  one,  hammering  about, 
Was  taking  all  the  windows  out. 


Old  scraps  of  shingles  fell  before 
The  noisy  mansion's  open  door ; 
And  wrangling  children  raked  the  yard, 
And  labored  much,  and  laughed  as  hard, 
And  fired  the  burning  trash  I  smelt 
And  sniffed  again— so  good  I  felt ! 
100 


LOCKERBIE  FAIR 

O  THE  LOCKERBIE  FAIR  ! — Have  you  heard  of  its 

fame 

And  its  fabulous  riches,  too  rare  for  a  name! — 
The  gold  of  the  noon  of  the  June-time  refined 
To  the  Orient-Night,  till  the  eyes  and  the  mind 
Are  dazed  with  the  sights,  in  the  earth  and  the 

air, 
Of  the  opulent  splendors  of  Lockerbie  Fair. 

What  more  fortunate  fate  might  to  mortal  befall, 
Midst  the  midsummer  beauty  and  bloom  of  it  all, 
Than  to  beam  with  the  moon  o'er  the  rapturous 

scene 

And  twink  with  the  stars  as  they  laughingly  lean 
O'er  the  luminous  revel  and  glamour  and  glare 
Fused  in  one  dazzling  glory  at  Lockerbie  Fair. 
101 


LOCKERBIE   FAIR 

The  Night,  like  a  queen  in  her  purple  and  lace, 
With  her  diamonded  brow,  and  imperious  grace 
As  she  leads  her  fair  votaries,  train  upon  train, 
A-dance  thro'  the  feasts  of  this  mystic  domain 
To  the  mandolin's  twang,  and  the  warble  and 

blare 
Of  voice,  flute  and  bugle  at  Lockerbie  Fair. 

All  strange,  ever-changing,  enchanted  delights 
Found  now  in  this  newer  Arabian  Nights, — 
Where  each  lovely  maid  is  a  Princess,  and  each 
Lucky  swain  an  Aladdin — all  treasures  in  reach 
Of  the  lamps  and  the  rings — and  with  Genii  to 

spare, 
Simply  waiting  your  orders,  at  Lockerbie  Fair. 


102 


A  TINKLE  OF  BELLS 

THE  LIGHT  of  the  moon  on  the  white  of  the 
snow, 

And  the  answering  twinkles  along  the  street, 
And  our  sleigh  flashing  by,  in  the  glamour  and 

glow 
Of  the  glorious  nights  of  the  long  ago, 

When  the  laugh  of  her  lips  rang  clear  and  sweet 
As  the  tinkle  our  horses  shook  out  of  the  bells 

And  flung  and  tossed  back 

On  our  glittering  track 
In  a  shower  of  tremulous,  murmuring  swells 

Of  the  echoing,  airy,  melodious  bells ! — 

O  the  mirth  of  the  bells ! 

And  the  worth  of  the  bells ! 

Come  tinkle  again,  in  this  dearth  of  the  bells, — 
This  laughter  and  love  that  I  lack,  yearning  back, 

For  the  far-away  sound  of  the  bells ! 
103 


A   TINKLE   OF   BELLS 

Ah !  the  bells,  they  were  glad  in  the  long  ago ! 
And  the  tinkles  they  had,  they  have  thrilled  me  sd 
I  have  said :    "It  is  they  and  her  songs  and  face 
Make  summer  for  me  in  the  wintriest  place !" 
And  now — but  sobbings  and  sad  farewells, 
As  I  peer  in  the  night  through  the  sleeted  pane, 
Hearing  a  clangor  and  wrangle  of  bells, 
And  never  a  tinkle  again ! 

The  snow  is  a-swoon,  and  the  moon  dead-white, 
And  the  frost  is  wild  in  the  air  to-night ! 
Yet  still  will  I  linger  and  listen  and  pray 
Till  the  sound  of  her  voice  shall  come  this  way, 
With  a  tinkle  of  bells, 
And  the  lisp-like  tread 

Of  the  hooves  of  the  sleigh, 
And  the  murmurs  and  swells 

Of  the  vows  she  said. 
And  O,  I  shall  listen  as  madmen  may, 
Till  the  tinkling  bells  ring  down  this  way ! — 
104 


A  TINKLE   OF  BELLS 

Till  again  the  grasp  of  my  hand  entwines 
The  tensioned  loop  of  the  quivering  lines, 
And  again  we  ride  in  the  wake  of  the  pride 
And  the  strength  of  the  coursers,  side  by  side ; 
With  our  faces  smitten  again  by  the  spray 
Of  the  froth  of  our  steeds  as  we  gallop  away 
In  affright  of  the  bells  and  the  might  of  the  bells, 
And  the  infinite  glee  and  delight  of  the  bells, 
As  they  tinkle  and  tinkle  and  tinkle,  till  they 
Are  heard  through  a  dawn  where  the  mists  are 

drawn, 

And  we  canter  a  gallop  and  dash  away 
Sheer  into  The  Judgment  Day ! 


105 


AN  OLD  FRIEND 

HEY.  Old  Midsummer!  are  you  here  again, 

With  all  your  harvest-store  of  olden  joys. 
Vast  overhanging  meadow-lands  of  rain, 


y  Vfcs  >Hk<"T-v-.  I  \A  "5 -••* • 

i  A  iM^N  rtaiilW;;^,,- 


106 


AN  OLD   FRIEND 

And  drowsy  dawns,  and  noons  when  golden  grain 

Nods  in  the  sun,  and  lazy  truant  boys 
Drift  ever  listlessly  adown  the  day, 
Too  full  of  joy  to  rest,  and  dreams  to  play. 


The  same  old  Summer,  with  the  same  old  smile 

Beaming  upon  us  in  the  same  old  way 

107 


AN   OLD  FRIEND 

We  knew  in  childhood!    Though  a  weary  while 

Since  that  far  time,  yet  memories  reconcile 

The  heart  with  odorous  breaths  of  clover- 
hay; 

And  again  I  hear  the  doves,  and  the  sun  streams 
through 

The  old  barn-door  just  as  it  used  to  do. 

And  so  it  seems  like  welcoming  a  friend — 

An  old,  old  friend,  upon  his  coming  home 
From  some  far  country — coming  home  to  spend 
Long,  loitering  days  with  me:    And  I  extend 
My  hand  in  rapturous  glee : — And  so  you've 

come ! — 

Ho,  I'm  so  glad !    Come  in  and  take  a  chair : 
Well,  this  is  just  like  old  times,  I  declare ! 


108 


MY  BACHELOR  CHUM 

O  a  corpulent  man  is  my  bachelor  chum, 

With  a  neck  apoplectic  and  thick — 
An  abdomen  on  him  as  big  as  a  drum, 

And  a  fist  big  enough  for  the  stick ; 
With  a  walk  that  for  grace  is  clear  out  of  the  case, 

And  a  wobble  uncertain — as  though 
His  little  bow-legs  had  forgotten  the  pace 

That  in  youth  used  to  favor  him  so. 

He  is  forty,  at  least ;  and  the  top  of  his  head 

Is  a  bald  and  a  glittering  thing ; 
And  his  nose  and  his  two  chubby  cheeks  are  as 

red 

As  three  rival  roses  in  Spring. 
109 


MY   BACHELOR   CHUM 

His  mouth  is  a  grin  with  the  corners  tucked  in, 
And  his  laugh  is  so  breezy  and  bright  , 

That  it  ripples  his  features  and, dimples  his  chin 
With  a  billowy  look  of  delight. 

He  is  fond  of  declaring  he  "don't  care  a  straw" — 

That  "the  ills  of  a  bachelor's  life 
Are  blisses  compared  with  a  mother-in-law, 

And  a  boarding-school  miss  for  a  wife !" 
So  he  smokes  and  he  drinks,  and  he  jokes  and  he 
winks, 

And  he  dines  and  he  wines,  all  alone, 
With  a  thumb  ever  ready  to  snap  as  he  thinks 

Of  the  comforts  he  never  has  known. 

But  up  in  his  den — (Ah,  my  bachelor  chum!) — 
I  have  sat  with  him  there  in  the  gloom, 

When  the  laugh  of  his  lips  died  away  to  become 
But  a  phantom  of  mirth  in  the  room. 
no 


MY   BACHELOR  CHUM 

And  to  look  on  him  there  you  would  love  him, 

for  all 

His  ridiculous  ways,  and  be  dumb 
As  the  little  girl-face  that  smiles  down  from  the 

wall 
On  the  tears  of  my  bachelor  chum. 


in 


HER  BEAUTIFUL  HANDS 

O  YOUR  HANDS — they  are  strangely  fair ! 
Fair — for  the  jewels  that  sparkle  there, — 
Fair — for  the  witchery  of  the  spell 
That  ivory  keys  alone  can  tell ; 
But  when  their  delicate  touches  rest 
Here  in  my  own  do  I  love  them  best, 
As  I  clasp  with  eager,  acquisitive  spans 
My  glorious  treasure  of  beautiful  hands ! 

Marvelous — wonderful — beautiful  hands ! 
They  can  coax  roses  to  bloom  in  the  strands 
Of  your  brown  tresses ;  and  ribbons  will  twine, 
Under  mysterious  touches  of  thine, 
Into  such  knots  as  entangle  the  soul 
And  fetter  the  heart  under  such  a  control 
As  only  the  strength  of  my  love  understands — 
My  passionate  love  for  your  beautiful  hands. 

112 


HER   BEAUTIFUL   HANDS 

As  I  remember  the  first  fair  touch 
Of  those  beautiful  hands  that  I  love  so  much, 
I  seem  to  thrill  as  I  then  was  thrilled, 
Kissing  the  glove  that  I  found  unfilled — 
When  I  met  your  gaze,  and  the  queenly  bow, 
As    you    said    to    me,    laughingly,    "Keep    it 

now!"     .     .     . 

And  dazed  and  alone  in  a  dream  I  stand, 
Kissing  this  ghost  of  your  beautiful  hand. 

When  first  I  loved,  in  the  long  ago, 
And  held  your  hand  as  I  told  you  so — 
Pressed  and  caressed  it  and  gave  it  a  kiss 
And  said  "I  could  die  for  a  hand  like  this !" 
Little  I  dreamed  love's  fullness  yet 
Had  to  ripen  when  eyes  were  wet 
And  prayers  were  vain  in  their  wild  demands 
For  one  warm  touch  of  your  beautiful  hands. 


MER  BEAUTIFUL   HANDS 

Beautiful  Hands !— O  Beautiful  Hands ! 

Could  you  reach  out  of  the  alien  lands 

Where  you  are  lingering,  and  give  me,  to-night, 

Only  a  touch — were  it  ever  so  light — 

My  heart  were  soothed,  and  my  weary  brain 

Would  lull  itself  into  rest  again ; 

For  there  is  no  solace  the  world  commands 

Like  the  caress  of  your  beautiful  hands. 


114 


THE  BEST  IS  GOOD  ENOUGH 

I  QUARREL  not  with  Destiny, 

But  make  the  best  of  everything — 

The  best  is  good  enough  for  me. 

Leave  Discontent  alone,  and  she 
Will  shut  her  mouth  and  let  you  sing. 
I  quarrel  not  with  Destiny. 

I  take  some  things,  or  let  'em  be — 
Good  gold  has  always  got  the  ring ; 
The  best  is  good  enough  for  me. 

Since  Fate  insists  on  secrecy, 
I  have  no  arguments  to  bring — 
I  quarrel  not  with  Destiny. 
"5 


THE  BEST  IS  GOOD   ENOUGH 

The  fellow  that  goes  "haw"  for  "gee5 
Will  find  he  hasn't  got  full  swing. 
The  best  is  good  enough  for  me. 

ONE  only  knows  our  needs,  and  He 
Does  all  of  the  distributing. 
I  quarrel  not  with  Destiny; 
The  best  is  good  enough  for  me. 


TOIL 

HE  had  toiled  away  for  a  weary  while, 
Thro'  day's  dull  glare  and  the  night's  deep  gloom  ; 
And  many  a  long  and  lonesome  mile 
He  had  paced  in  the  round  of  his  dismal  room ; 
He  had  fared  on  hunger — had  drunk  of  pain 
As  the  drouthy  earth  might  drink  of  rain ; 
And  the  brow  he  leaned  in  his  trembling  palm 
Throbbed  with  a  misery  so  intense 
That  never  again  did  it  seem  that  calm 
Might  come  to  him  with  the  gracious  bairn 
Of  old-time  languor  and  indolence. 
And  he  said,  "I  will  leave  the  tale  half  told, 
And  leave  the  song  for  the  winds  to  sing ; 
And  the  pen — that  pitiless  blade  of  gold 
That  stabs  my  heart  like  a  dagger-sting — 
I  will  drive  to  the  hilt  through  the  inkstand's  top 
And  spill  its  blood  to  the  last  black  drop !" 
117 


TOIL 

Then  he  masked  his  voice  with  a  laugh,  and  went 
Out  in  the  world  with  a  lawless  grace — 
With  a  brazen  lie  in  his  eyes  and  face 
Told  in  a  smile  of  glad  content: 
He  roved  the  rounds  of  pleasure  through, 
And  tasted  each  as  it  pleased  him  to ; 
He  joined  old  songs,  and  the  clink  and  din    ^ 
Of  the  revelers  at  the  banquet  hall; 
And  he  tripped  his  feet  where  the  violin 
Spun  its  waltz  for  the  carnival ; 
He  looked,  bedazed,  on  the  luring  wile 
And  the  siren-light  of  a  woman's  smile, 
And  peered  in  her  eyes  as  a  diver  might 
Peer  in  the  sea  ere  he  leaps  from  sight, — 
Caught  his  breath,  with  a  glance  above, 
And  dropped  full-length  in  the  depths  of  love. 
********** 

'Tis  well  if  ever  the  false  lights  die 
On  the  alien  coasts  where  our  wreck'd  hopes  lie ! 
'Tis  well  to  feel,  through  the  blinding  rain, 
Our  outflung  hands  touch  earth  again! 
118 


TOIL 

So  the  castaway  came,  safe  from  doom, 
Back  at  last  to  his  lonely  room 
Filled  with  its  treasure  of  work  to  do 
And  radiant  with  the  light  and  bloom 
Of  the  summer  sun  and  his  glad  soul,  too! 
And  sweet  as  ever  the  song  of  birds, 
Over  his  work  he  sang  these  words : — 

"O  friends  are  good,  with  their  princely  ways, 

And  royal  hearts  they  are  goodly  things ; 

And  fellowship,  in  the  long  dark  days 

When  the  drear  soul  cowers  with  drooping  wings, 

Is  a  thing  to  yearn  for. — Mirth  is  good,— 

For  a  ringing  laugh  is  a  rhythmic  cry 

Blown  like  a  hail  from  the  Angelhood 

To  the  barque  of  the  lone  soul  drifting  by. — 

Goodly,  too,  is  the  mute  caress 

Of  woman's  hands  and  their  tenderness — 

The  warm  breath  wet  with  the  dews  of  love— 

The  vine-like  arms,  and  the  fruit  thereof— 

The  touch  that  thrills,  and  the  kiss  that  melts, — 

But  Toil  is  sweeter  than  all  things  else." 


HIS   ROOM 

"I'M  home  again,  my  dear  old  Room, 

I'm  home  again,  and  happy,  too, 
As,  peering  through  the  brightening  gloom, 
I  find  myself  alone  with  you : 

Though  brief  my  stay,  nor  far  away, 
I  missed  you — missed  you  night  and  day- 
As  wildly  yearned  for  you  as  now. — 
Old  Room,  how  are  you,  anyhow? 

"My  easy  chair,  with  open  arms, 

Awaits  me  just  within  the  door; 
The  littered  carpet's  woven  charms 

Have  never  seemed  so  bright  before, — 
The  old  rosettes  and  mignonettes 
And  ivy-leaves  and  violets, 
Look  up  as  pure  and  fresh  of  hue 
As  though  baptized  in  morning  dew. 

120 


HIS   ROOM 

"Old  Room,  to  me  your  homely  walls 

Fold  round  me  like  the  arms  of  love, 
And  over  all  my  being  falls 

A  blessing  pure  as  from  above — 
Even  as  a  nestling  child  caressed 
And  lulled  upon  a  loving  breast, 
With  folded  eyes,  too  glad  to  weep 
And  yet  too  sad  for  dreams  or  sleep. 

"You've  been  so  kind  to  me,  old  Room — 

So  patient  in  your  tender  care, 
My  drooping  heart  in  fullest  bloom 
Has  blossomed  for  you  unaware; 
And  who  but  you  had  cared  to  woo 
A  heart  so  dark,  and  heavy  too, 
As  in  the  past  you  lifted  mine 
From  out  the  shadow  to  the  shine? 

"For  I  was  but  a  wayward  boy 

When  first  you  gladly  welcomed  me 
And  taught  me  work  was  truer  joy 
Than  rioting  incessantly: 

121 


HIS  ROOM 


And  thus  the  din  that  stormed  within 

The  old  guitar  and  violin 

Has  fallen  in  a  fainter  tone 

And  sweeter,  for  your  sake  alone. 

"Though  in  my  absence  I  have  stood 

In  festal  halls  a  favored  guest, 
I  missed,  in  this  old  quietude, 

My  worthy  work  and  worthy  rest — 
By  this  I  know  that  long  ago 
You  loved  me  first,  and  told  me  so 
In  art's  mute  eloquence  of  speech 
The  voice  of  praise  may  never  reach. 

"For  lips  and  eyes  in  truth's  disguise 
Confuse  the  faces  of  my  friends, 
Till  old  affection's  fondest  ties 
I  find  unraveling  at  the  ends ; 
But  as  I  turn  to  you,  and  learn 
To  meet  my  griefs  with  less  concern, 
Your  love  seems  all  I  have  to  keep 
Me  smiling  lest  I  needs  must  weep. 

122 


HIS   ROOM 

"Yet  I  am  happy,  and  would  fain 

Forget  the  world  and  all  its  woes ; 
So  set  me  to  my  tasks  again, 

Old  Room,  and  lull  me  to  repose : 
And  as  we  glide  adown  the  tide 
Of  dreams,  forever  side  by  side, 
I'll  hold  your  hands  as  lovers  do 
Their  sweethearts'  and  talk  love  to  you." 


123 


THE  PATHS  OF  PEACE 

MAURICE   THOMPSON — FEBRUARY    14,    IQOI 

HE  would  have  holiday — outworn,  in  sooth, 
Would  turn  again  to  seek  the  old  release, — 

The  open  fields — the  loved  haunts  of  his  youth — 
The  woods,  the  waters,  and  the  paths  of  peace. 

The  rest — the  recreation  he  would  choose 
Be  his  abidingly !    Long  has  he  served 

And  greatly — ay,  and  greatly  let  us  use 

Our  grief,  and  yield  him  nobly  as  deserved. 

Perchance — with  subtler  senses  than  our  own 
And  love  exceeding  ours — he  listens  thus 

To  ever  nearer,  clearer  pipings  blown 
From  out  the  lost  lands  of  Theocritus. 
124 


THE  PATHS  OF   PEACE 

Or,  haply,  he  is  beckoned  from  us  here 
By  knight  or  yeoman  of  the  bosky  wood, 

Or,  chained  in  roses,  haled  a  prisoner 
Before  the  blithe  Immortal,  Robin  Hood. 

Or,  mayhap,  Chaucer  signals,  and  with  him 
And  his  rare  fellows  he  goes  pilgriming ; 

Or  Walton  signs  him,  o'er  the  morning  brim 
Of  misty  waters  midst  the  dales  of  Spring. 

Ho !  wheresoever  he  goes,  or  whosoe'er 

He  fares  with,  he  has  bravely  earned  the  boon. 

Be  his  the  open,  and  the  glory  there 
Of  April-buds,   May-blooms   and   flowers   of 
June! 

Be  his  the  glittering  dawn,  the  twinkling  dew, 
The  breathless  pool  or  gush  of  laughing 

streams — 

Be  his  the  triumph  of  the  coming  true 
Of  all  his  loveliest  dreams ! 
125 


IN  STATE 

Is  IT  the  martins  or  katydids? — 
Early  morning  or  late  at  night  ? 

A  dream,  belike,  kneeling  down  on  the  lids 
Of  a  dying  man's  eyesight. 

Over  and  over  I  heard  the  rain — 

Over  and  over  I  waked  to  see 
The  blaze  of  the  lamp  as  again  and  again 

Its  stare  insulted  me. 


It  is  not  the  click  of  the  clock  I  hear — 
It  is  the  pulse  of  the  clock, — and  lo ! 

How  it  throbs  and  throbs  on  the  quickened  ear 
Of  the  dead  man  listening  so ! 
126 


IN   STATE 

I  heard  them  whisper  She  would  not  come ; 

But,  being  dead,  I  knew — I  knew ! 
Some  hearts  they  love  us  alive,  and  some 

They  love  us  dead — they  do! 

And  I  am  dead — and  I  joy  to  be, — 
For  here  are  my  folded  hands,  so  cold 

And  yet  blood-warm  with  the  roses  she 
Has  given  me  to  hold. 

Dead — yea,  dead ! — But  I  hear  the  beat 

Of  her  heart  as  her  warm  lips  touch  my  brow- 

And  O  how  sweet — how  blinding  sweet 
To  know  that  she  loves  me  now! 


127 


THE  MUTE  SINGER 


THE  morning  sun  seemed  fair  as  though 
It  were  a  great  red  rose  ablow 

In  lavish  bloom, 

With  all  the  air  for  its  perfume, — 
Yet  he  who  had  been  wont  to  sing, 
Could  trill  no  thing. 

II 

Supine,  at  noon,  as  he  looked  up 
Into  the  vast  inverted  cup 

Of  heavenly  gold, 
Brimmed  with  its  marvels  manifold, 
And  his  eye  kindled,  and  his  cheek — 
Song  could  not  speak. 
128 


THE   MUTE  SINGER 
III 

Night  fell  forebodingly ;  he  knew 
Soon  must  the  rain  be  falling,  too, — 

And,  home,  heartsore, 
A  missive  met  him  at  the  door — 
— Then  Song  lit  on  his  lips,  and  he 
Sang  gloriously. 


129 


THE  TRIBUTE  OF  HIS  HOME 

BENJAMIN    HARRISON,    INDIANAPOLIS, 
MARCH   14,   I9OI 

BOWED,  midst  a  universal  grief  that  makes 
Columbia's  self  a  stricken  mourner,  cast 
In  tears  beneath  the  old  Flag  at  half-mast, 
A  sense  of  glory  rouses  us  and  breaks 
Like  song  upon  our  sorrowing  and  shakes 

The  dew  from  our  drenched  eyes,  that  smile 

at  last 
In  childish  pride — as  though  the  great  man 

passed 

To  his  most  high  reward  for  our  poor  sakes. 
130 


THE   TRIBUTE   OF   HIS   HOME 

Loved  of  all  men — we  muse, — yet  ours  he  was — 
Choice  of  the  Nation's  mighty  brotherhood — 
Her  soldier,  statesman,  ruler. — Ay,  but  then, 
We  knew  him — long  before  the  world's  applause 
And  after — as  a  neighbor,  kind  and  good, 
Our  common  friend  and  fellow-citizen. 


EDGAR  WILSON  NYE 

OBIT  FEBRUARY  22,  1896 

THE  saddest  silence  falls  when  Laughter  lays 
Finger  on  lip,  and  falteringly  breaks 
The  glad  voice  into  dying  minor  shakes 

And  quavers,  lorn  as  airs  the  wind-harp  plays 

At  wane  of  drearest  Winter's  bleakest  days. 
A  troubled  hush,  in  which  all  hope  forsakes 
Us,  and  the  yearning  upstrained  vision  aches 

With  tears  that  drown  e'en  heaven  from  our  gaze. 
Such  silence — after  such  glad  merriment! 

O  prince  of  halest  humor,  wit  and  cheer ! 

Could  you  speak  yet  to  us,  I  doubt  not  we 

Should  catch  your  voice,  still  blithely  eloquent 

Above  all  murmurings  of  sorrow  here, 

Calling  your  love  back  to  us  laughingly. 


132 


SONGS  OF  A  LIFE-TIME 

MRS.  SARAH  T.  BOLTON'S  POEMS 
1897 

SONGS  of  a  Life-Time — with  the  Singer's  head 

A  silvery  glory  shining  midst  the  green 

Of  laurel-leaves  that  bind  a  brow  serene 

And  godlike  as  was  ever  garlanded. — 

So  seems  her  glory  who  herein  has  wed 

Melodious  Beauty  to  the  strong  of  mien 

And  kingly  Speech — made  kinglier  by  this  queen 

In  lilied  cadence  voiced  and  raimented. 

Songs  of  a  Life-Time :  by  your  own  sweet  stress 

Of  singing  were  ye  loved  of  bygone  years — 

As  through  our  day  ye  are,  and  shall  be  hence, 

Till  fame  divine  marks  your  melodiousness 

And  on  the  Singer's  lips,  with  smiles  and  tears, 

Seals  there  the  kiss  of  love  and  reverence. 


133 


A  NOON  INTERVAL 

A  DEEP,  delicious  hush  in  earth  and  sky — 
A  gracious  lull — since,  from  its  wakening, 
The  morn  has  been  a  feverish,  restless  thing 

In  which  the  pulse  of  Summer  ran  too  high 

And  riotous,  as  though  its  heart  went  nigh 
To  bursting  with  delights  past  uttering: 
Now,  as  an  o'er  joyed  child  may  cease  to  sing 

All  falteringly  at  play,  with  drowsy  eye 
Draining  the  pictures  of  a  fairy-tale 

To  brim  his  dreams  with — there  comes  o'er  the 

day 
A  loathful  silence,  wherein  all  sounds  fail 

Like  loitering  tones  of  some  faint  roundelay  .  .  . 
No  wakeful  effort  'longer  may  avail — • 

The  wand  waves,  and  the  dozer  sinks  away. 


134 


OLD  HEC'S  IDOLATRY 

HEIGH-O!  our  jolly  tilts  at  New  World  song!— 
What  was  the  poem  indeed!  and  where  the 

bard — 

"Stabbing  his  inkpot  ever,  not  his  heart," 
As  Hector  phrased  it  contumeliously, 
Mouthing  and  munching,  at  the  orchard-stile, 
A  water-cored  rambo  whose  spirited  juice 
Glanced,  sprayed  and  flecked  the  sunlight  as  he 

mouth'd 
And  muncht,  and  muncht  and  mouth'd.  All  loved 

the  man ! 

"Our  Hector"  as  his  Alma  Mater  oozed 
It  into  utterance— "Old  Hec"  said  we 
Who  knew  him,  hide-and-tallow,  hoof-and-horn'. 
So  he :  "O  ay !  my  soul !  our  New  World  song— 
The  tweedle-deedles  of  our  modern  school — 
135 


OLD   HEC  S   IDOLATRY 

A  school  of  minnows, — not  one  gamy  bass — 

To  hook  the  angler,  net  the  angler  him. 

Here !  all  ye  little  fishes :  tweedle-dee ! 

Soh !  one — along  the  vasty  stream  of  time — 

Glints  to  the  surface  with  a  gasp, — and,  lo, 

A  bubble !  and  he  thinks,  'My  eye ! — see  there, 

Ye  little  fishes, — there's  a  song  I've  sung!' 

Another  gapes  :  another  bubble ;  then 

He  thinks :  'Well,  is  it  not  a  wondrous  art 

To  breathe  a  great  immortal  poem  like  that !' 

And  then  another — and  another  still — 

And  yet  another, — till  from  brim  to  brim 

The  tide  is  postuled  over  with  a  pest 

Of  bubbles— bursting  bubbles !    Ay !  O  ay !" 

So,  bluff  old  Hec.    And  we,  who  knew  his  mood 

Had  ramped  its  worst — unless  we  roused  it  yet 

To  ire's  horriffickest  insanity 

By  some  inane,  unguarded  reference 

To  "verse  beragged  in  Hoosier  dialect" — 

(A  strangely  unforgotten  coinage  of 

Old  Hec's  long  years  agone) — we,  so,  forbore 

136 


OLD    HEC  S    IDOLATRY 

A  word,  each  glimpsing  each,  as  down  we  sank, 

Couched  limply  in  the  orchard's  selvage,  where — 

The  rambo  finished  and  the  soggy  core 

Zippt  at  a  sapphire  wasp  with  waist  more  slim 

Than  any  slender  lady's,  of  old  wars, 

Pent  fasting  for  long  sennights  in  tall  towers 

That  overtop  the  undercringing  seas — 

With  one  accordant  voice,  the  while  he  creased 

His  scroll  of  manuscript,  we  said,  "Go  on." 

Then  Hector  thus : 


AN  IDYL  OF  THE  KING 

Erewhile,  as  Autumn,  to  King  Arthur's  court 
Came  Raelus,  clamoring :   "Lo,  has  our  house 
Been  sacked  and  pillaged  by  a  lawless  band 
Of  robber  knaves,  led  on  by  Alstanes, 
The  Night-Flower  named,  because  of  her  fair 

face, 

All  like  a  lily  gleaming  in  the  dusk 
137! 


OLD   HEC  S   IDOLATRY 


Of  her  dark  hair — and  like  a  lily  brimmed 
With  dewy  eyes  that  drip  their  limpid  smiles 
Like  poison  out,  for  by  them  has  been  wro't 
My  elder  brother's  doom,  as  much  I  fear. 
While  three  days  gone  was  holden  harvest-feast 
il 


At  Lynion  Castle — clinging  like  a  gull 
High  up  the  gray  cliffs  of  Caerleon — 
Came,  leaf-like  lifted  from  the  plain  below 
As  by  a  twisted  wind,  a  rustling  pack 

138 


OLD  HEC'S   IDOLATRY 

Of  bandit  pillagers,  with  Alstanes 
Bright-fluttering  like  a  red  leaf  in  the  front. 
And  ere  we  were  aware  of  fell  intent — 
Not  knowing  whether  it  was  friend  or  foe — 
We  found  us  in  their  toils,  and  all  the  house 
In  place  of  guests  held  only  prisoners — 
Save  that  the  host,  my  brother,  wro't  upon 
By  the  strange  beauty  of  the  robber  queen, 
Was  left  unfettered,  but  by  silken  threads 
Of  fine-spun  flatteries  and  wanton  smiles 
Of  the  enchantress,  till  her  villain  thieves 
Elad  rifled  as  they  willed  and  signal  given 
To  get  to  horse  again.    And  so  they  went — 
Their  leader  flinging  backward,  as  she  rode, 
A  kiss  to  my  mad  brother — mad  since  then, — 
For  from  that  sorry  hour  he  but  talked 
Of  Alstanes,  and  her  rare  beauty,  and 
Her  purity — ay,  even  that  he  said 
Was  star-white,  and  should  light  his  life  with 

love 
Or  leave  him  groping  blindly  in  its  quest 

139 


OLD   HEC  S    IDOLATRY 

Thro*  all  eternity.    So,  sighing,  he 
Went  wandering  about  till  set  of  sun, 
Then  got  to  horse,  and  bade  us  all  farewell  ; 
And  with  his  glamoured  eyes  bent  trancedly 


Upon  the  tumbled  sands  that  marked  the  way 
The  robber-woman  went,  he  turned  and  chased 
His  long  black  shadow  o'er  the  edge  of  night." — 
So  Raelus,  all  seemingly  befret 
140 


OLD    HEC'S    IDOLATRY 

With  such  concern  as  nipped  his  utterance 
In  scraps  of  speech :  at  which  Sir  Lancelot, 
Lifting  a  slow  smile  to  the  King,  and  then 
Turning  his  cool  eye  on  the  youth — "And  you 
Would  track  this  siren-robber  to  her  hold 
And  rout  her  rascal  followers,  and  free 
Your  brother  from  the  meshes  of  this  queen 
Of  hearts — for  there  you  doubtless  think  him?' 

"Ayr 

Foamed  Raelus,  cheek  flushed  and  eye  aflame,- 
"So  even  have  I  tracked,  and  found  them,  too, 
And  know  their  burrow,  shrouded  in  a  copse, 
Where,  faring  in  my  brother's  quest,  I  heard 
The  nicker  of  his  horse,  and  followed  on, 
And  found  him  tethered  in  a  thicket  wild, 
As  tangled  in  its  tress  of  leaf  and  limb 
As  is  a  madman's  hair ;  and  down  the  path 
That  parted  it  and  ran  across  a  knoll 
And  dipped  again,  all  suddenly  I  came 
Upon  a  cave,  wide-yawning  'neath  a  beard 
Of  tangled  moss  and  vine,  whence  issuing 
141 


OLD  HEC'S   IDOLATRY 

I  heard,  blown  o'er  my  senses  faint  and  clear 
As  whiffs  of  summer  wind,  my  brother's  voice 
Lilting  a  love-song,  with  the  burden  tricked 
With  dainty  warblings  of  a  woman's  tongue : 
And  even  as  I  listening  bent,  I  heard 
Such  peals  of  wanton  merriment  as  made 
My  own  heart  flutter  as  a  bird  that  beats 
For  freedom  at  the  bars  that  prison  it. 
So  turned  I  then  and  fled  as  one  who  flies 
To  save  himself  alone — forgetful,  all, 
Of  that  my  dearer  self — my  brother. — Oh  !"- 
Breaking  as  sharply  as  the  icy  blade 
That  loosens  from  the  eave  to  slice  the  air 
And  splinter  into  scales  of  flying  frost — 
"Thy  help !  Thy  help !  A  dozen  goodly  knights- 
Ay,  even  that,  if  so  it  be  their  hearts 
Are  hungry  as  my  own  to  right  the  wrong !" 

So  Raelus.  And  Arthur  graciously 
Gave  ear  to  him,  and,  patient,  heard  him  thro', 
And  pitied  him,  and  granted  all  he  asked ; 
142 


OLD   II EC  S    IDOLATRY 

Then  took  his  hand  and  held  it,  saying,  "Strong 
And  ever  stronger  may  its  grasp  be  knit 
About  the  sword  that  flashes  in  the  cause 
Of  good." 

Thus  Raelus,  on  the  morrow's  front, 
Trapped  like  a  knight  and  shining  like  a  star, 
Pranced  from  the  archway  of  the  court,  and  led 


OLD    HEC'S    IDOLATRY 

His  glittering  lances  down  the  gleaming  road 
That  river-like  ran  winding  till  it  slipped 
Out  of  the  palace  view  and  spilled  their  shields 
Like  twinkling  bubbles  o'er  the  mountain  brim. 
Then  happed  it  that  as  Raelus  rode,  his  tongue 
Kept  even  pace  and  cantered  ever  on 
Right  merrily.    His  brother,  as  he  said, 
Had  such  an  idle  soul  within  his  breast — 
Such  shallowness  of  fancy  for  his  heart 
To  drift  about  in — that  he  well  believed 
Its  anchor  would  lay  hold  on  any  smile 
The  lees  of  womanhood  might  offer  him. 
As  for  himself,  he  loved  his  brother  well, 
Yet  had  far  liefer  see  him  stark  and  white 
In  marble  death  than  that  his  veins  should  burn 
With  such  vitality  as  spent  its  flame 
So  garishly  it  knew  no  steady  blaze, 
But  ever  wavered  round  as  veered  the  wind 
Of  his  conceit ;  for  he  had  made  his  boast — 
Tho'  to  his  own  shame  did  he  speak  of  it — 
That  with  a  wink  he  could  buy  every  smile 
144 


OLD    HEC'S    IDOLATRY 

That  virtue  owned.    So  tattled  Raelus 
Till,  heated  with  his  theme,  he  lifted  voice 
And  sang  the  song,  "The  Light  of  Woman's 
Eyes." 

"O  bright  is  gleaming  morn  on  mountain  height ; 
And  bright  the  moon,  slipt  from  its  sheath  of 

night,— 
But  brighter  is  the  light  of  woman's  eyes. 

"And  bright  the  deivdrop,  trembling  on  the  lip 
Of  some  red  rose,  or  lily  petal-tip, 

Or  lash  of  pink, — but  brighter  woman's  eyes. 

"Bright  is  the  firefly's  ever-drifting  spark 
That  throbs  its  pulse  of  light  out  in  the  dark; 
And  bright  the  stars, — but  brighter  ivoman's 
eyes. 

"Bright  morn  or  even;  bright  or  moon  or  star, 
And  all  the  many  twinkling  lights  that  are, — 
O  brighter  than  ye  all  are  woman's  eyes." 
145 


OLD   HEC'S   IDOLAtkV 

So  Raelus  sang. — And  they  who  rode  with  him 

Bewildered  were,  and  even  as  he  sang 

Went  straggling,  twos  and  threes,  and  fell  behind 

To  whisper  wonderingly,  "Is  he  a  fool  ?" 

And  "Does  he  waver  in  his  mind  ?"  and  "Does 

The  newness  of  adventure  dazzle  him?" 

So  spake  they  each  to  each,  till  far  beyond, 

With  but  one  loathful  knight  in  company, 

They  saw  him  quit  the  beaten  track,  and  turn 

Into  the  grassy  margin  of  a  wood. 

And  loitering,  they  fell  in  mocking  jest 

Of  their  strange  leader!    "See!  why,  see!"  said 

one, — 

"He  needs  no  help  to  fight  his  hornets'  nest, 
But  one  brave  knight  to  squire  him!" — pointing 

on 

To  where  fared  on  the  two  and  disappeared. 
"O  ay !"  said  one,  "belike  he  is  some  old 
War-battered  knight  of  long-forgotten  age, 
That,  bursting  from  his  chrysalis,  the  grave, 
Comes  back  to  show  us  tricks  we  never  dreamed !" 
146 


OLD  HEC'S  IDOLATRY 

"Or  haply,"  said  another,  with  a  laugh, — 
"He  rides  ahead  to  tell  them  that  he  comes 
And  shrive  them  ere  his  courage  catches  up." 
And  merry  made  they  all,  and  each  in  turn 
Filliped  a  witty  pellet  at  his  head : 
Until,  at  last,  their  shadows  shrunk  away 
And  shortened  'neath  them  and  the  hour  was 

noon, 

They  flung  them  from  their  horses  listlessly 
Within  the  grassy  margin  of  the  wood 
Where  had  passed  Raelus  an  hour  agone  : 
And,  hungered,  spied  a  rustic ;  and  they  sent 
To  have  them  such  refreshment  as  might  be 
Found  at  the  nearest  farm, — where,  as  it  chanced, 
Was  had  most  wholesome  meat,  and  milk,  and 

bread ; 

And  honey,  too,  celled  in  its  fretted  vase 
Of  gummy  gold  and  dripping  nectar-sweet 
As  dreamed-of  kisses  from  the  lips  of  love  ; 
Wine,  too,  was  broughten,  rosy  as  the  dawn 
That  ushers  in  the  morning  of  the  heart ; 
147 


OLD   HEC'S   IDOLATRY 

And  tawny,  mellow  pear,  whose  golden  ore 
Fell  molten  on  the  tongue  and  oozed  away 
\n  creamy  and  delicious  nothingness ; 
And  netted  melon,  musky  as  the  breath 
Of  breezes  blown  from  out  the  Orient ; 
And  purple  clusterings  of  plum  and  grape, 
Blurred  with  a  dust  dissolving  at  the  touch 
Like  flakes  the  fairies  had  snowed  over  them. 
And  as  the  idlers  basked,  with  toast  and  song 
And  graceful  dalliance  and  wanton  jest, 
A  sound  of  trampling  hooves  and  jingling  reins 
Brake  sudden,  stilled  them ;  and  from  out  a  dim 
Path  leading  from  the  bosky  wood  there  came 
A  troop  of  mounted  damsels,  nigh  a  score, 
Led  by  a  queenly  girl,  in  crimson  clad, 
With  lissome  figure  lithe  and  willowy, 
And  face  as  fair  and  sweet  and  pure  withal 
As  might  a  maiden  lily-blossom  be 
Ere  it  has  learned  the  sin  of  perfect  bloom : 
Her  hair,  blown  backward  like  a  silken  scarf 
And  fondled  by  the  sun,  was  glossier 
148 


OLD  HEC'S   IDOLATRY 

And  bluer  black  than  any  raven's  wing. 
"And  O !"  she  laughed,  not  knowing  she  was 

heard 

By  any  but  her  fellows :  "Men  are  fools !" 
Then  drawing  rein,  and  wheeling  suddenly, 
Her  charger  mincing  backward, — "Raelus — 
My  Raelus  is  greater  than  ye  all, 
Since  he  is  such  a  fool  that  he  forgets 
He  is  a  man,  and  lets  his  tongue  of  love 
Run  babbling  like  a  silly  child's ;  and,  pah ! 
I  puff  him  to  the  winds  like  thistle-down !" 
And,  wheeling  as  she  spake,  found  staring  up, 
Wide-eyed  and  wondering,  a  group  of  knights, 
Half  lifted,  as  their  elbows  propped  their  heads, 
Half  lying;  and  one,  smirker  than  the  rest, 
Stood  bowing  very  low,  with  upturned  eyes 
Lit  with  a  twinkling  smile :  "Fair  lady — and 
Most  gracious  gentlewoman" — seeing  that 
The  others  drew  them  back  as  tho'  abashed 
And  veiled  their  faces  with  all  modesty, 
Tho'  she,  their  leader,  showed  not  any  qualm,— 
149 


V 
OLD   HEC'S   IDOLATRY 

"Since  all  unwittingly  we  overheard 

Your  latest  speech,  and  since  we  know  at  last 

'All  men  are  fools/  right  glad  indeed  am  I 

That  such  a  nest  of  us  remains  for  you 

To  vanquish  with  those  eyes."     Then,  serious, 

That  she  nor  smiled  nor  winced,  nor  anything — 

"Your  pardon  will  be  to  me  as  a  shower 

Of  gracious  rain  unto  a  panting  drouth." 

So  bowed  in  humblest  reverence ;  at  which 

The  damsel,  turning  to  her  followers, 

Laughed  musically, — "See !  he  proves  my 

words !" 

Whereat  the  others  joined  with  inward  glee 
Her  pealing  mirth ;  and  in  the  merriment 
The  knights  chimed,  too,  and  he,  the  vanquished 

one, 

Till  all  the  wood  rang  as  at  hunting-tide 
When  bugle-rumors  float  about  the  air 
And  echoes  leap  and  revel  in  delight. 
150 


OLD   HEC  S    IDOLATRY 

Then  spake  the  vanquished  knight,  with  mental 

eye 
Sweeping  the  vantage-ground  that  chance  had 

gained,— 

"Your  further  pardon,  lady.    Since  the  name 
Of  Raelus  fell  from  those  lips  of  thine, 
We  fain  would  know  of  him.     He  led  us  here, 
And  as  he  went  the  way  wherefrom  your  path 
Emerges,  haply  you  may  tell  us  where 
He  may  be  found?" 

"What!  Raelus?"  she  cried  — 
"He  comes  with  you? — The  brave  Sir  Raelus?— 
That  mighty  champion ?— that  gallant  knight?— 
That  peerless  wonder  of  all  nobleness  ? 
Then  proud  am  I  to  greet  ye,  knowing  that ; 
And,  certes,  had  I  known  of  it  ere  now, 
Then  had  I  proffered  you  more  courtesy 
And  told  you,  ere  the  asking,  that  he  bides 
The  coming  of  his  friends  a  league  from  this, 


OLD  HEC'S   IDOLATRY 

Hard  by  a  reedy  mere,  where  in  high  tune 
We  left  him  singing,  nigh  an  hour  agone." 
Then,  as  she  lightly  wheeled  her  horse  about 
And  signal  gave  to  her  companions 
To  follow,  gaily  cried :    "Tell  Raelus 
His  cousin  sends  to  him  her  sad  farewells 
And  fond  regrets,  and  kisses  many  as 
His  valorous  deeds  are  numbered  in  her  heart." 
And  with  "Fair  morrow  to  ye,  gentle  knights !" 
Her   steed's    hooves    struck   the   highway   at   a 

bound ; 

And  dimly  thro'  the  dust  they  saw  her  lead 
Her  fluttering  cavalcade  as  recklessly 
As  might  a  queen  of  Araby,  fleet-horsed, 
Skim  o'er  the  level  sands  of  Syria ; 
So  vanished.     And  the  knights  with  one  accord 
Put  foot  in  stirrup,  and,  with  puzzled  minds 
And  many-channeled  marvelings,  filed  in 
The  woody  path,  and  fared  them  on  and  on 
Thro'  denser  glooms,  and  ways  more  intricate ; 
152 


OLD   HEC'S    IDOLATRY 

Till,  mystified  at  last  and  wholly  lost, 

They  made  full  halt,  and  would  have  turned  them 

back 

But  that  a  sudden  voice  brake  on  their  ears 
All  piteous  and  wailing,  as  distressed : 
And,  following  these  cries,  they  sharply  came 
Upon  an  open  road  that  circled  round 
A  reedy  flat  and  sodden  tract  of  sedge, 
Moated  with  stagnant  water,  crusted  thick 
With  slimy  moss,  wherein  were  wriggling  things 
Entangled,  and  blind  bubbles  bulging  up 
And  bursting  where  from  middle  way  upshot 
A  tree-trunk,  with  its  gnarled  and  warty  hands 
As  tho'  upheld-  to  clutch  at  sliding  snakes 
Or  nip  the  wet  wings  of  the  dragonfly. 
Here  gazing,  lo !  they  saw  their  comrade,  he 
That  had  gone  on  with  Raelus ;  and  he 
Was  tugging  to  fling  back  into  its  place 
A  heavy  log  that  once  had  spanned  the  pool 
153 


OLD  HEC'S   IDOLATRY 

And  made  a  footway  to  the  sedgy  flat 

Whence  came  the  bitter  wailing  cries  they  heard. 


Then  hastened  they  to  join  him  in  his  task; 

But,  panting,  as  they  asked  of  Raelus, 

All  winded  with  his  work,  yet  jollier 

Than  meadow-lark  at  morn,  he  sent  his  voice 

In  such  a  twittering  of  merriment, 

The  wail  of  sorrow  died  and  laughter  strewed 

Its  grave  with  melody. 

154 


OLD  HEC'S   IDOLATRY 


"O  Raelus ! 

Rare  Raelus !"  he  cried  and  clapped  his  hands, 
And  even  in  the  weeds  that  edged  the  pool 
Fell  wrestling  with  his  mirth.— "Why,  Raelus," 
He  said,  when  he  at  last  could  speak  again, 
"Drew  magnet-like — you  know  that  talk  of  his, — 
And  so,  adhesive,  did  I  cling  and  cling 
Until  I  found  us  in  your  far  advance, 
And,  hidden  in  the  wood,  I  stayed  to  say 
'Twas  better  we  should  bide  your  coming.    'No.' 
Then  on  again ;  and  still  a  second  time — 
'Shall  we  not  bide  their  coming?'     'No !'  he  said ; 
And  on  again,  until  the  third ;  and  'No — 
We'll  push  a  little  further.'     As  we  did ; 
And,  sudden,  came  upon  an  open  glade — 
There  to  the  northward, — by  a  thicket  bound  : 
Then  he  dismounted,  giving  me  his  rein, 
And,  charging  me  to  keep  myself  concealed, 
And  if  he  were  not  back  a  certain  time 
To  ride  for  you  and  search  where  he  had  gone, 
He  crossed  the  opening  and  passed  from  sight 
155 


OLD   HEC'S   IDOLATRY 

Within  the  thicket.     I  was  curious: 
And  so,  dismounting,  tethered  our  two  steeds 
And  followed  him ;  and,  creeping  warily, 
Came  on  him  where — unseen  of  him — I  saw 
Him  pause  before  the  cave  himself  described 
Before  us  yesternoon.     And  here  he  put 
His  fingers  to  his  lips  and  gave  a  call 
Bird-like  and  quavering:  at  which  a  face, 
As  radiant  as  summer  sun  at  morn, 
Parted  the  viny  curtains  of  the  cave ; 
And  then,  a  moment  later,  came  in  view 
A  woman  even  fairer  than  my  sight 
Might  understand.     'What !  dare  you  come 

again  ?' 

As,  lifting  up  her  eyes  all  flashingly, 
She  scorched  him  with  a  look  of  hate. — 'Begone ! 
Or  have  you — traitor,  villain,  knave,  and  cur, — 
Bro't  minions  of  the  law  to  carry  out 
The  vengeance  of  your  whimpering  jealousy?' 
Then  Raelus,  all  cowering  before 
Her  queenly  anger,  faltered :  'Hear  me  yet ; 

156 


OLD    HEC  S    IDOLATRY 

I  do  not  threaten.    But  your  love — your  love! — 
O  give  me  that !    I  know  you  pure  as  dew : 
Your  love  !  your  love ! — The  smile  that  has  gone 

out 

And  left  my  soul  a  midnight  of  despair ! — 
Your  love  or  life !    For  I  have  even  now 
Your  stronghold  girt  about  with  certain  doom 
If  you  but  waver  in  your  choice. — Your  love  !' 
At  which,  as  quick  as  tho't  leapt  on  him  there 
A  strong  man  from  the  covert  of  the  gloom ; 
And  others,  like  to  him,  from  here  and  there 
Came  scurrying.    I,  turning,  would  have  fled, 
But  found  myself  as  suddenly  beset 
And  tied  and  tumbled  there  with  Raelus. 
And  him  they  haltered  by  his  squirming  heels 
Until  he  did  confess  such  villainy 
As  made  me  wonder  if  his  wits  were  sound- 
Confessed  himself  a  renegade — a  thief- 
Ay,  even  one  of  them,  save  that  he  knew 
Not  that  nice  honor  even  thieves  may  claim 
Among  themselves. — And  so  ran  on  thro'  such 

157 


OLD   HEC'S   IDOLATRY 

A  catalogue  of  littlenesses,  I 

For  deafest  shame  had  even  stopped  my  ears 

But  that  my  wrists  were  lockt.  And  when  he 

came 

To  his  confession  of  his  lie  at  court, 
By  which  was  gained  our  knightly  sympathy 
And  valiant  service  on  this  fools'  crusade, 
I  seemed  to  feel  the  redness  of  my  blush 
Soak  thro'  my  very  soul.     There  T  brake  in : 
'Fair  lady  and  most  gallant, — to  my  shame 
Do  I  admit  we  have  been  duped  by  such 
An  ingrate  as  this  bundled  lump  of  flesh 
That  I  am  helpless  to  rise  up  and  spurn : 
Unbind  me,  and  I  promise  such  amends 
As  knightly  hands  may  deign  to  wreak  upon 
A  thing  so  vile  as  he/     Then,  laughing,  she : 
'First  tell  me,  by  your  honor,  where  await 
Your  knightly  brothers  and  my  enemies.' 
To  which  I  answered,  truthfully,  I  knew 
Not  where  you  lingered,  but  not  close  at  hand 
I  was  assured.    Then  all  abrupt,  she  turned : 


OLD  HEC'S  IDOLATRY 

'Get  every  one  within !  We  ride  at  once !' 

And  scarce  a  dozen  minutes  ere  they  came 

Outpouring  from  the  cave  in  such  a  guise 

As  made  me  smile  for  very  wonderment. — 

From  head  to  heel  in  woman's  dress  they  came, 

Clad  richly,  too,  and  trapped  and  tricked  withal 

As  maidenly,  but  in  the  face  and  hand, 

As  ever  damsels  flock  at  holiday. 

Then  were  their  chargers  bro't,  caparisoned 

In  keeping ;  and  they  mounted,  lifting  us, 

Still  bounden,  with  much  jest  and  mockery 

Of  soft  caress  and  wanton  blandishments, 

As  tho'  they  were  of  sex  their  dress  declared. 

And  so  they  carried  us  until  they  came 

Upon  the  road  there  as  it  nicks  the  copse ; 

And  so  drew  rein,  dismounted,  leaving  some 

To  guard  their  horses ;  hurried  us  across 

This  footway  to  the  middle  of  the  flat: 

Here  Raelus  was  bounden  to  a  tree, 

Stript  to  the  waist ;  my  fetters  cut,  and  then 

A  long,  keen  switch  put  in  my  hand,  and  'Strike ! 


Strike  as  all  duty  bids  you !'  said  the  queen. 
And  so  I  did,  with  right  good  will  at  first ; 
Till,  softened  as  I  heard  the  wretch's  prayers 
Of  anguish,  I  at  last  withheld  my  hand. 


'What !  tiring  ?'  chirpt  the  queen :  'Give  me  the 

stick!' 

And  swish,  and  swish,  and  mercy  how  it  rained ! 
160 


OLD   HEC'S    IDOLATRY 

Then  all  the  others,  forming  circlewise, 
Danced  round  and  round  the  howling  wretch,  and 

jeered 
And  japed  at  him,  and  mocked  and  scoffed  at 

him, 

And  spat  upon  him.     And  I  turned  away 
And  hid  my  face ;  then  raised  it  pleadingly : 
Nor  would  they  listen  my  appeal  for  him ; 
But  left  him  so,  and  thonged  and  took  me  back 
Across  the  mere,  and  drew  the  bridge,  that  none 
Might  go  to  him,  and  carried  me  with  them 
Far  on  their  way,  and  freed  me  once  again ; 
And  back  I  turned,  tho'  loath,  to  succor  him." 
And  even  as  he  ceased  they  heard  the  wail 
Break  out  anew,  and  crossed  without  a  word, 
And  Raelus  they  found,  and  without  word 
They  loosed  him.     And  he  brake  away  and  ran 
As  runs  a  lie  the  truth  is  hard  upon. 

161 


OLD   HEC'S   IDOLATRY 

Thus  did  it  fare  with  Raelus.     And  they 
Who  knew  of  it  said  naught  at  court  of  it, 
Nor  from  that  day  spake  ever  of  him  once, 
Nor  heard  of  him  again,  nor  cared  to  hear. 


162 


UNLESS 

WHO  has  not  wanted  does  not  guess 
What  plenty  is. — Who  has  not  groped 

In  depths  of  doubt  and  hopelessness 
Has  never  truly  hoped. — 

Unless,  sometimes,  a  shadow  falls 
Upon  his  mirth,  and  veils  his  sight, 
And  from  the  darkness  drifts  the  light 
Of  love  at  intervals. 

And  that  most  dear  of  everything, 

I  hold,  is  love ;  and  who  can  sit 
With  lightest  heart,  and  laugh  and  sing, 

Knows  not  the  worth  of  it. — 
Unless,  in  some  strange  throng,  perchance, 
He  feels  how  thrilling  sweet  it  is, 
One  yearning  look  that  answers  his — 
The  troth  of  glance  and  glance. 
163 


UNLESS 

Who  knows  not  pain,  knows  not,  alas ! 

What  pleasure  is. — Who  knows  not  of 
The  bitter  cup  that  will  not  pass, 

Knows  not  the  taste  of  love. 
O  souls  that  thirst,  and  hearts  that  fast, 

And  natures  faint  with  famishing, 

God  lift  and  lead  and  safely  bring 
You  to  your  own  at  last ! 


164 


PROSE   OR   VERSE? 

PROSE  or  Verse — or  Verse  or  Prose? 
Ever  thus  the  query  goes, — 
Which  delight  do  we  prefer — 
Which  the  finer — daintier? 

Each  incites  a  zest  that  grows- — 
Prose  or  Verse — or  Verse  or  Prose  ? — 
Each  a  lotus-eater's  spell 
Wholly  irresistible. 

All  that  wit  may  fashion,  free- 
Voiced,  or  piped  in  melody, — 
Prose  or  Verse — or  Verse  or  Prose— 
Which"  of  these  the  mastery  knows  ? 

'Twere  as  wise  to  question,  friend — 

As  of  this  alluring  blend, — 

The  aroma  or  the  rose? — 

Prose  or  Verse — or  Verse  or  Prose? 

165 


"GO  READ  YOUR  BOOK!5' 

How  many  times  that  grim  old  phrase 
Has  silenced  me,  in  childish  days ! 

And  now — as  then  it  did — 
The  phantom  admonition,  clear 
And  dominant,  rings, — and  I  hear, 

And  do  as  I  am  bid. 

"Go  read  your  book !"  my  good  old  sire 
Commanded,  in  affected  ire, 

When  I,  with  querying  look 
And  speech,  dared  vex  his  studious  mind 
With  idle  words  of  any  kind. — 

And  so  I  read  my  book. 

Though  seldom,  in  that  wisest  age, 
Did  I  discern  on  Wisdom's  page 
More  than  the  task:  that  led 
166 


"GO  READ  YOUR  BOOK!" 

At  least  to  thinking,  and  at  last 

To  reading  less,  and  not  so  fast, 

And  longing  as  I  read. 

And,  lo !  in  gracious  time,  I  grew 

To  love  a  book  all  through  and  through  !- 

With  yearning  eyes  I  look 
On  any  volume, — old,  maybe, 
Or  new — 'tis  meat  and  drink  to  me. — 

And  so  I  read  my  book. 

Old  dog-eared  Readers,  scarred  and  inked 
With  school-boy  hatred,  long  extinct;— 

Old  Histories  that  bored 
Me  worst  of  all  the  school ; — old,  worn 
Arithmetics,  frayed,  ripped,  and  torn — 

Now  Ye  are  all  adored ! 

And  likewise  I  revere  and  praise 
My  sire,  as  now,  with  vainest  gaze 
And  hearing,  still  I  look 

167 


"GO   READ  YOUR   BOOK!" 

For  the  old  face  so  grave  yet  dear 
Nay,  still  I  see,  and  still  I  hear! 
And  so  I  read  my  book. 

Next  even  to  my  nearest  kin, — 
My  wife — my  children  romping  in 

From  school  to  ride  my  knee, — 
I  love  a  book,  and  dispossess 
My  lap  of  it  with  loathfulness, 

For  all  their  love  of  me. 

For,  grave  or  gay  the  book,  it  takes 
Me  as  an  equal — calms,  or  makes 

Me,  laughing,  overlook 
My  little  self— forgetful  all 
Of  being  so  exceeding  small. 

And  so  I  read  my  book. 


168 


A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO 

THE  WORKS  OF 
JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILE? 


AFTER  DEATH 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night"         .  '     .       .       .       .       193 
AFTKRWHILES,  THE 

"Afterwhiles"      ..........          g 

ALBUMANIA 

Friendship 

Life 

Life's  Happiest  Hours 

Marion-County  Man  Homesick  Abroad 

Birdyl    Birdy! 

"Armazindy"      ..........       160 

ALL-GOLDEN,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"    .......  45 

ALMON  KEEPER 

"A  Child-World"        .........         50 

ALMOST  BEYOND  ENDURANCE 

"His  Pa's  Romance"         ........         27 

AN  IDIOT 

"Home-Folks"     ..........       150 

AN  IDYL  OF  THE  KING 

"Armazindy"       ..........         97 

"His  Pa's  Romance"         ........       137 

AN  IMPETUOUS  RESOLVE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"    ........       178 

"Child-Rhymes"         .........         95 

AN  OLD  FRIEND 

"His  Pa's  Romance"        ........       106 

1 


2  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

AN  OLD  SWEETHEART  OF  MINE 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 117 

"Love-Lyrics" 23 

Also,  separately,  illustrated  by  Christy 

The  same  (Author's  Edition) 

The  same  (Limited  Autograph  Edition) 
AN  OUT-WORN  SAPPHO 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 187 

"Love-Lyrics" 87 

ANSELMO 

"Afterwhiles" 20 

ARMAZINDY 

"Armazindy" I 

ART  AND  LOVE 

"Afterwhiles" 1U 

ARTEMUS  OF  MICHIGAN,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 148 

As  CREATED 

"Home-Folks" 18 

As  MY  UNCLE  USED  TO  SAY 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 83 

ASSASSIN,  THE 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 183 

AT  AUNTY'S  HOUSE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 213 

"Child-Rhymes" 56 

AT  BROAD  RIPPLE 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 129 

AT  CROWN  HILL 

"Home-Folks" 157 

AT  His  WINTRY  TENT 

"Home-Folks" 109 

AT  NINETY  IN  THE  SHADE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 67 

AT  NOEY'S  HOUSE 

"A  Child-World" 71 

AT  NOON— AND  MIDNIGHT 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 135 

AT  SEA 

"Home-Folks" 136 

AT  UTTER  LOAF 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 174 

AUGUST 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 66 

AUTUMN 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     *      «       ...       183 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  3 

AWAY 

"Afterwhiles" 60 

BABE  HERRICK 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 120 

BABYHOOD 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 105 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 53 

BABY  's  DYING 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 93 

BACK  FROM  A  TWO-YEARS'  SENTENCE 

"Afterwhiles" 89 

BACKWARD  LOOK,  A 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 193 

BALLAD,  A— WITH  A  SERIOUS  CONCLUSION 

"Home-Folks" 102 

BALLADS  OF  THE  COMING  RAIN,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 76 

BAN,  THE 

"Sketches  in  Prose"  201 

BAREFOOT  BOY,  A 

"Armazindy" 134 

BAT,  THE 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 166 

-  BEAR  STORY,  THE 

"A  Child-World" 16% 

"Child-Rhymes"  .  179 

BEAUTIFUL  CITY,  THE 

"Afterwhiles" 10 

_  .BEAUTIFUL  HANDS  ; 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 201 

BECALMED 

'.'Afterwhiles" 94 

BED,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 159 

BEDOUIN 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 189 

BEETLE,  THE— DUSK-SONG 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" '  .  .  103 

BEING  His  MOTHER 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 70 

BELLS  JANGLED 

"Sketches  in  Prose" 49 

BEWILDERING  EMOTIONS 

"A  Child- World" 161 

BILLY  COULD  KIDE 

"Rhymes  ol  Childhood"  .  199 

BILLY  GOODIN' 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"   .  189 


4  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

BILLY  MILLER'S  CIRCUS-SHOW 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 55 

BILLY'S  ALPHABETICAL  ANIMAL  SHOW 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 196 

BLIND 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 86 

BLIND  GIRB,  THE 

"Armazindy" 21 

BLOOMS  OF  MAY 

"Love-Lyrics" 185 

BLOSSOMS  ON  THE  TREES,  THE 

"Afterwhiles" 85 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 206 

BOY-FRIEND,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 157 

BOY  LIVES  ON  OUR  FARM,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 225 

"Child-Rhymes"  . 67 

BOYS,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 94 

BOYS'  CANDIDATE,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 149 

"Child-Rhymes" 144 

BOY'S  MOTHER,  A 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 219 

BRAVE  REFRAIN,  A 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 80 

BRIDE,  A 

"Afterwhiles" 51 

BROOK-SONG,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 85 

"Farm-Rhymes" 41 

BUD'S  FAIRY-TALE 

"A  Child  World" 130 

BUMBLEBEE,  THE 

"Child-Rhymes" 64 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 150 

BUSCH  AND  TOMMY 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 117 

BY  ANY  OTHER  NAME 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 134 

BY  HER  WHITE  BED 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 204 

CANARY  AT  THE  FARM,  A 

"Afterwhiles" 142 

"Farm-Rhymes" »  76 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  5 

CASSANDER 

"Home-Folks" 

CHAIRLEY  BURKE 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" ™ 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 

CHANT  OF  THE  CROSS-BEARING  CHILD,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 179 

CHARMS 

"Armazindy" 

CHILD'S  HOME— LONG  AGO,  A 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

CHILD-WORLD,  THE 

"A  Child-World" 

CHRIST,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 

CHRISTINE'S  SONG 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

CHRISTMAS  AFTERTHOUGHT 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

CHRISTMAS  ALONG  THE  WIRES 

"Home-Folks" 

CHRISTMAS  COMES  BUT  ONCE  A  YEAR 

"Home-Folks" 

CHRISTMAS  LONG  AGO,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

CIRCUS-DAY  PARADE,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

"Child-Rhymes" 

CIRCUS  PARADE,  THE 

"Armazindy" 

CLOVER,  THE 

"Neghborly  Poems" *9 

"Farm-Rhymes" 
COON-DOG  WESS 

"Neghborly  Poems" 

COUNTRY  PATHWAY,  A 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 

"Farm-Rhymes" 

COUSIN  RUFUS'  STORY 

"A  Child-World" 

CUP  OF  TEA,  A 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 

CURLY  LOCKS 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

"Child-Rhymes" 82 

CURSE  OF  THE  WANDERING  FOOT,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 1°7 


6  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

CYCLONE,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  ...  .  .  25 
DAN  PAINE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 171 

DAS  KRIST  KINDEL 

"Afterwhiles" 15 

DAWN,  NOON  AND  DEWFALL 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 81 

DAYS  GONE  BY,  THE 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury"  54 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 25 

"Child-Rhymes" 60 

DEAD  LOVER,  THE 

"Afterwhiles" 52 

DEAR  HANDS 

"Pipes  o1  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 124 

DEARTH 

"Afterwhiles" Ill 

DEATH 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 147 

DECORATION  DAY  ON  THE  PLACE 

"Neghborly  Poems" 104 

DELICIOUS  INTERRUPTION,  A 

"A  Child-World" .143 

DELIGHTS  OF  OUR  CHILDHOOD  is  SOON  PASSED  AWAY 

"Neghborly  Poems" 2 

DISCOURAGING  MODEL,  A 

"Afterwhiles" 88 

"Love-Lyrics" 133 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 207 

DITTY  OF  NO  TONE,  A 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  ....  22 

Doc  SIFERS 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury"  132 

DOLORES 

"Armazindy" 113 

DONN  PlATT  OF  MAC-O-CHEE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 121 

DOS'T  o'  BLUES,  A 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 164 

"Neghborly  Poems" 117 

DOT  LEEDLE  BOY 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 116 

DOWN  AROUND  THE  RIVER 

"Pipes  o1  Pan  at  Zekesbury"           87 

"Child-Rhymes" 51 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  7 

DOWN  ON  WRIGGLE  CRICK 

"Afterwhiles"  185 

DREAM 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 159 

"Love-Lyrics" 46 

DREAM  OF  AUTUMN,  A 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  .....  50 
DREAM  OF  THE  LITTLE  PRINCESS,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"  70 

DREAMER,  SAY 

"Armazindy" 67 

DRUM,  THE 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 170 

DUSK 

"Afterwhiles" 106 

DUSK-SONG— THE  BEETLE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 103 

EDGAR  WILSON  NYE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 132 

EDGE  OF  THE  WIND,  THE 

"Home-Folks" t  .  .  138 

ELIZABETH 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 168 

EMERSON 

"Home-Folks" 53 

EMPTY  GLOVE,  AN 

"Armazindy" 74 

ENDURING,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 152 

ENVOY 

"Armazindy" 169 

ENVOY 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"   ........        232 

"Child-Rhymes" «...  187 

ENVOY 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 224 

EQUITY—? 

"Home-Folks" 119 

ERASMUS  WILSON 

"Neghborly  Poems" 43 

ERE  I  WENT  MAD 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 170 

EROS 

"Armazindy" 118 

ETERNITY 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 173 


8  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

EUGENE  FIELD 

"Home-Folks" 101 

EVAGENE  BAKER 

"Neghborly  Poems" 97 

EVENING  COMPANY,  THE 

"A  Child- World" 99 

EXCEEDING  ALL 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 69 

EZRA  HOUSE 

"Neghborly  Poems" 82 

FALL  CRICK  VIEW  OF  THE  EARTHQUAKE,  A 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 88 

FAME 

"Afterwhiles" 68 

"Sketches  in  Prose"  101 

FARMER  WHIFFLE.— BACHELOR 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 73 

"Love-Lyrics" 167 

FEEL  IN  THE  CHRIS'MAS-AIR,  A 

"Home-Folks" 81 

FEW  OF  THE  BIRD-FAMILY,  A 

"Armazindy" 149 

FIELD,  EUGENE 

"Home-Folks" 101 

FIRE  AT  NIGHT 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 86 

FIRST  BLUEBIRD,  THE 

"Neghborly  Poems" 96 

FISHING-PARTY,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 223 

FLORETTY'S  MUSICAL  CONTRIBUTION 

"A  Child-World" 123 

FLYING  ISLANDS  OF  THE  NIGHT,  THE 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 1 

FOLKS  AT  LONESOMEVILLE 

"Armazindy" 142 

FOR  THE  SONG'S  SAKE 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" • 

FOR  THIS  CHRISTMAS 

"Armazindy" 27 

FOR  You 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 154 

FROG,  THE 

"Armazindy"  . 79 

FROM  DELPHI  TO  CAMDEN 

"Home-Folks"     , 73 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  0 

FROM  THE  HEADBOARD  OF  A  GRAVE  IN  PARAGUAY 

"Afterwhiles" 64 

FRUIT-PIECE,  A 

"Afterwhiles" 72 

FULL  HARVEST,  A 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 85 

FUNNIEST  THING  IN  THE  WORLD,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 140 

FUNNY  LITTLE  FELLOW,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"   ........         56 

"Child-Rhymes" 35 

GLIMPSE  OF  PAN,  A 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 210 

"Afterwhiles" 100 

GOD  BLESS  Us  EVERY  ONE 

"Sketches  in  Prose" 6 

"Go  READ  YOUR  BOOK" 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 166 

Go,  WINTER 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 167 

GOOD-BYE,  A 

"Armazindy" ,        .        .         32 

GOOD-BYE  ER  HOWDY-DO 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 7^ 

GRADY,  HENRY  W. 

"Home-Folks" 38 

-   GRANDFATHER  SQUEERS 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 124 

"Child-Rhymes" 160 

GRANNY 

"Afterwhiles" 158 

GRANT. 

"Afterwhiles" 119 

GREAT  EXPLORER,  THE 

"Armazindy" !56 

GREEN  GRASS  OF  OLD  IRELAND,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 107 

GRIGGSBY'S  STATION 

"Afterwhiles" 12g 

"Farm-Rhymes" 83 

GUINEY-PIGS 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"    ........       115 

HAPPY  LITTLE  CRIPPLE,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 20 

"Child-Rhymes" 40 


10  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

HARP  OF  THE  MINSTREL,  THE 

"Sketches  in  Prose" 125 

HARPER,  THE 

"Afterwhiles" 43 

HAS  SHE  FORGOTTEN 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 43 

"Love-Lyrics" 18! 

HE  AND  I 

"Armazindy" g4 

"Love-Lyrics" 83 

HE  CALLED  HER  IN 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 161 

"Love-Lyrics" 50 

HEAT-LIGHTNING 

"A  Child-World"        ....'....  187 

HENRY  W.  GRADY 

"Home-Folks" 38 

HER  BEAUTIFUL  EYES 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     ....  H5 

"Love-Lyrics" 60 

HER  BEAUTIFUL  HANDS 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 112 

HER  FACE  AND  BROW 

"Love-Lyrics" g3 

HER  HAIR 

"Afterwhiles" t  JJQ 

"Love-Lyrics" 128 

HER  WAITING  FACE 

"Love-Lyrics" 71 

HEREAFTER,  THE 

'Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 141 

HERR  WEISER 

"Afterwhiles" 7 

HINT  OF  SPRING,  A 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 99 

HIRED  MAN  AND  FLORETTY,  THE 

"A  Child-World" 88 

HIRED  MAN'S  FAITH  IN  CHILDREN,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 154 

His  CHRISTMAS  SLED 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 118 

His  LOVE  OF  HOME 

"Home-Folks"     .....,,,  42 

His  MOTHER 

"Pipes  o'  Para  at  Zekesbury*'          ....  49 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  11 

His  MOTHER'S  WAY 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 45 

His  PA'S  ROMANCE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 1 

His  ROOM 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 120 

His  VIGIL 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 132 

HOME  AG'IN 

"Home-Folks" 43 

HOME  AT  NIGHT 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 57 

"Love-Lyrics" 122 

HOME-FOLKS 

"Home-Folks" 1 

HOME-GOING,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 29 

HOME-MADE  FAIRY-TALE,  A 

"Afterwhiles" 21 

"Child-Rhymes" 175 

HOME-MADE  RIDDMS 

"Armazindy" 165 

HOME- VOYAGE,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 13 

HONEY  DRIPPING  FROM  THE  COMB 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 198 

HOODOO,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 148 

HOOSIER  FOLK-CHILD,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 58 

Hoss,  THE 

"Neghborly  Poems" 73 

How  DID  You  REST  LAST  NIGHT? 

"Armazindy" 31 

How  IT  HAPPENED 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury"          ...  51 

"Love-Lyrics" 95 

"Neghborly  Poems" m 

How  JOHN  QUIT  THE  FARM 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 31 

"Farm-Rhymes" 59 

HUNTER  BOY,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 181 

HYMB  OF  FAITH,  A 

"Neghborly  Poems" 13 


12  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

HYMN  EXULTANT 

"Home-Folks" 61 

IF  I  KNEW  WHAT  POETS  KNOW 

"Afterwhiles" 35 

IKE  WALTON'S  PRAYER 

"Afterwhiles" 37 

"Love-Lyrics" 107 

ILLILEO 

"Afterwhiles" *7 

"Love-Lyrics" HI 

IN  BOHEMIA 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 61 

IN  STATE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 126 

IN  SWIMMING-TIME 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 220 

IN  THE  DARK 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 93 

IN  THE  EVENING 

"Home-Folks"  , 122 

IN  THE  NIGHT 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 55 

IN  THE  SOUTH 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 175 

INDIANA 

"Afterwhiles" H6 

IRON  HORSE,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 42 

IRY  AND  BILLY  AND  Jo 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 112 

ISAAC  BRADWELL 

"Neghborly  Poems" 103 

JACK-IN-THE-BOX 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 87 

JACK  THE  GIANT  KILLER 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 62 

JAP  MILLER 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 46 

JARGON-JINGLE 

"Armazindy" 155 

JIM 

"Afterwhiles" 162 

JOHN  ALDEN  AND  PERCILLY 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 195 

JOHN  BROWN 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 1*2 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  18 

JOHN  CLARK  RIDPATH,  LINES  TO  PERFESSER 

"Neghborly  Poems" 62 

JOHN  McKEEN 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 216 

"Afterwhiles" 76 

JOHN  TARKINGTON  JAMESON 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 113 

JOLLY  MILLER,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 204 

"Child-Rhymes" 136 

JONEY 

"Afterwhiles" 150 

JUDITH 

"Green  Fields  and  Running:  Brooks" 145 

"Love-Lyrics" 79 

JUNE 

"Afterwhiles" 107 

"Farm-Rhymes" 104 

JUNE  AT  WOODRUFF 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 71 

JUST  TO  BE  GOOD 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  .  .  .  .  .  56 
KING,  THE 

"Afterwhiles" 49 

KING  OF  OO-RINGTUM-JING,  THE 

"Armazindy" 153 

KINGRY'S  MILL 

"Afterwhiles" 146 

KISSING  THE  ROD 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 50 

KNEE-DEEP  IN  JUNE 

"Afterwhiles" 132 

"Farm-Rhymes" 91 

KNEELING  WITH  HERRICK 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" C9 

LAND  OF  THUS-AND-SO,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 121 

LAND  OF  USED-TO-BE,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 74 

LAST  NIGHT— AND  THIS 

"Afterwhiles" 87 

"Love-Lyrics" 131 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 208 

LAUGHTER 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night"         .       .  169 


14  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

LAUGHTER  HOLDING  BOTH  His  SIDES 

"Afterwhiles" 65 

LAW  OF  THE  PERVERSE,  THE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 58 

LAWYER  AND  CHILD 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 68 

LEAVE-TAKING,  A 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 179 

LEEDLE  DUTCH  BABY 

"Afterwhiles" 183 

LEGEND  GLORIFIED,  THE 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 84 

LEONAINIE 

"Armazindy" I28 

"Love-Lyrics" 68 

LET  SOMETHING  GOOD  BE  SAID 

"Home-Folks" 33 

LET  Us  FORGET 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 194 

"Love-Lyrics" '  •  64 

LIFE-LESSON,  A 

"Afterwhiles" 58 

"Child-Rhymes" 171 

LIGHT  OF  LOVE,  THE 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 132 

LIKE  His  MOTHER  USED  TO  MAKE 

"Afterwhiles" .  .  154 

LIMITATIONS  OF  GENIUS 

"A  Child-World" .114 

LINCOLN 

"Home-Folks" 57 

LINES  TO  PERFESSER  JOHN  CLARK  RIDPATH 

"Neghborly  Poems" 62 

LISPER,  THE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 31 

LITTLE  COAT,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" r>3 

"Child-Rhymes" 9° 

LITTLE  DAVID 

"Armazindy" 60 

LITTLE  DOG-WOGGY,  THE 

"Armazindy" H5 

LITTLE  FAT  DOCTOR,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 97 

LITTLE  GIRLY-GIRL 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 35 


)  AMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  15 

LITTLE  JACK  JANITOR 

"A  Child- World" 199 

LITTLE  JOHNTS'S  CHRIS'MUS 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 141 

LITTLE  MANDY'S  CHRISTMAS-TREE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 136 

LITTLE  MOCK-MAN,  THE 

"Armazindy" 162 

LITTLE  ORPHANT  ANNIE 

"Afterwhiles" 193 

"Child-Rhymes" 23 

LITTLE  QUESTIONER,  THE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 43 

LITTLE-RED-APPLE  TREE,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"   ........          5 

LITTLE  RED  RIBBON,  THE 

"Armazindy" 80 

LITTLE  TINY  KICKSHAW,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 129 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 48 

LITTLE  TOWN  o'  TAILHOLT,  THE 

"Afterwhiles" 191 

LIZ-TOWN  HUMORIST,  A 

"Afterwhiles" 144 

LOCAL  POLITICIAN  FROM  AWAY  BACK,  A 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 73 

LOCKERBIE  FAIR 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 101 

LOCKERBIE  STREET 

"Afterwhiles" 13 

LOEHRS  AND  THE   HAMMONDS,  THE 

"A  Child-World" 81 

LONG  AFORE  HE  KNOWED  WHO  SANTY-CLAUS  Wuz 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 122 

"Child-Rhymes" 99 

LONGFELLOW 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 215 

"Afterwhiles" 115 

LONGFELLOW'S  LOVE  FOR  THE  CHILDREN 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 48 

LOST  Kiss,  THE 

"Afterwhiles" 32 

LOST  PATH,  THE 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 47 

"Love-Lyrics" 87 


18  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

LOUNGER,  A 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  ...  176 

LOVELY  CHILD,  THE 

"Armazindy" 157 

LOVING  CUP,  THE 

"Home-Folks" t  g7 

LOVELY  HUSBAND,  THE  (SONG) 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night"  ....  128 

LUGUBRIOUS  WHING-WHANG,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 130 

"Child-Rhymes" 119 

LULLABY 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 174 

MABEL 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 33 

MAN  IN  THE  MOON,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 183 

MARTHY  ELLEN 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 119 

MAYMIE'S  STORY  OF  RED  RIDING  HOOD 

"A  Child-World" 104 

MAX  AND  JIM 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 107 

McFEETERs'  FOURTH 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 133 

ME  AND  MARY 

"His  Pa's  Romance" g3 

MILO  JONES'S  WIFE 

"Farm-Rhymes" 51 

"Neghborly  Poems" gg 

MISTER  HOP-TOAD 

"Home-Folks" g 

MONUMENT  FOR  THE  SOLDIERS,  A 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  ....  109 

MOON-DROWNED 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury"  ....  121 

MOONSHINER'S  SERENADE 

"Home-Folks" 124 

MORTUL  PRAYER,  A 

"Neghborly  Poems" 94 

MOTHER  GOOSE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"  e  19 

MOTHER  SAINTED,  THE 

"Home-Folks'5 65 

MOTHER-SONG,  A 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 53 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  17 

MR.  FOLEY'S  CHRISTMAS 

"Home-Folks" 133 

MR.  HAMMOND'S  PARABLE— THE  DREAMER 

"A  Child- World" 116 

MR.  SlLBERBERG 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 91 

MR.  WHAT'S-HIS-NAME 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 220 

MULBERRY  TREE,  THE 

"Neghborly  Poems" 29 

MUSKINGUM  VALLEY,  THE 

"Armazindy" 25 

MUTE  SINGER,  THE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 128 

MY  BACHELOR  CHUM 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 109 

MY  BRIDE. THAT  Is  To  BE 

"Armazindy" 70 

"Love-Lyrics" 90 

MY  DANCIN'-DAYS  Is  OVER 

"Home-Folks" 34 

MY  FIDDLE 

"Neghborly  Poems" 36 

MY  FRIEND 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 201 

MY  HENRY 

"Armazindy" 54 

MY  MARY 

"Armazindy" 115 

"Love-Lyrics" 117 

MY  PHILOSOFY 

"Neghborly  Poems" 20 

MY  RUTHERS 

"Neghborly  Poems" 48 

NAME  OF  OLD  GLORY,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 4 

NATURAL  PERVERSITIES 

"Armazindy" 14 

NATURALIST,  THE 

"Home-Folks"  .  .  .  .  ,  .  .  .  .  .  155 
NAUGHTY  CLAUDE 

"Child-Rhymes" 126 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 170 

NESSMUK 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     „       .       .       .       .         82 


18  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

NEVER  TALK  BACK 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 78 

NEW  YEAR'S  TIME  AT  WILLARDS'S,  A 

"Afterwhiles" 168 

NINE  LITTLE  GOBLINS,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 62 

"Child-Rhymes" 104 

NOBLEST  SERVICE,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 147 

NOEY  BlXLER 

"A  Child- World" 56 

NOEY'S  NIGHT-PIECE 

"A  Child-World" ,  .  145 

NONSENSE  RHYME,  A 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 167 

NOON  LULL,  A 

"Armazindy" 52 

NOON  INTERVAL,  A 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 134 

NORTH  AND  SOUTH 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 40 

"NOTED  TRAVELER,  A" 

"A  Child- World" 66 

NOTHIN'  TO  SAY 

"Love-Lyrics" 103 

OLD-FASHIONED  ROSES 

"Afterwhiles" 127 

"Farm-Rhymes" 113 

OLD  GLORY,  THE  NAME  OF 

"Home-Folks" 4 

OLD  GRANNY  DUSK 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 45 

OLD  GUITAR,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 148 

OLD  HAY-MOW,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" Ill 

"Child-Rhymes" 148 

OLD  HEC'S  IDOLATRY 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 135 

OLD  HOME  BY  THE  MILL,  THE 

"Neghborly  Poems" 119 

"  Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury"   .......       IT! 

OLD-HOME  FOLKS,  THB 

"A  Child- World" 26 

OLD  JOHN  CLBVENGBR  ON  BUCKEYES 

"Neghborly  Poems" <,        72 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  If 

OLD  MAN,  THE 

"Neghborly  Poems" Opening  Poem 

OLD  MAN  OF  THE  SEA,  THE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 63 

OLD  MAN'S  NURSERY  RHYME 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 96 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 86 

"Farm-Rhymes" 159 

OLD  OCTOBER 

"Afterwhiles" 160 

"Farm-Rhymes" 1C9 

OLD,  OLD  WISH,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 171 

OLD  PLAYED-OUT  SONG,  A' 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 45 

"Neghborly  Poems" 52 

"Love-Lyrics" 31 

OLD  RETIRED  SEA-CAPTAIN,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 101 

OLD  SCHOOL-CHUM,  THE 

"Armazindy" 17 

OLD  SNOW-MAN, THE,— UNCLE  MART'S  POEM 

"A  Child-World" 191 

OLD  SWIMMIN'-HOLE 

"Neghborly  Poems" 3 

OLD-TIMER,  AN 

"Armazindy" 37 

OLD  TRAMP,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 102 

"Child-Rhymes" 75 

OLD  TRUNDLE-BED,  THE 

"Armazindy" 12 

OLD  WINTERS  ON  THE  FARM 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 173 

"Farm-Rhymes" 176 

OLD  YEAR  AND  THE  NEW,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 139 

"Love-Lyrics" 72 

O  LIFE  I  O  BEYOND  1 

"Home-Folks" 39 

ON  A  DEAD  BABE 

"Neghborly  Poems" 51 

ON  A  FLY-LEAF  IN  JOHN  BOYLE  O'REILLY'S  POEMS 

"Home-Folks"    .  ...         83 


20  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

ON  A  SPLKNDUD  MATCH 

"Neghborly  Poems" 71 

ON  ANY  ORDENARY  MAN  IN  A  HIGH  STATE  OF  LAUGHTURE 
AND  DELIGHT 

"Neghborly  Poems" 100 

ON  A  YOUTHFUL  PORTRAIT  OF  STEVENSON 

"Home-Folks" 70 

ONE  WITH  A  SONG 

"Home-Folks" 131 

ON  THE  BANKS  o'  DEER  CRICK 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     .....         20 
ON  THE  DEATH  OF  LITTLE  MAHALA  ASHCRAFT 

"Neghborly  Poems" 26 

ON  THE  SUNNY  SIDE 

"Child-Rhymes" 152 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 43 

ONWARD  TRAIL,  THE,— To  MYRON  W.  REED 

"Home-Folks" 55 

ORCHARD  LANDS  OF  LONG  AGO,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 147 

"Farm-Rhymes" 23 

ORLIE  WILDE 

"Armazindy" 119 

OSCAR  C.  MCCULLOCH 

"Home-Folks" 86 

OUR  BETSY 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 34 

OUR  BOYHOOD  HAUNTS 

"Home-Folks" 11 

OUR  HIRED  GIRL 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 229 

"Child-Rhymes" 140 

OUR  KIND  OF  A  MAN 

"Afterwhiles" 41 

OUR  OWN 

"Armazindy" 76 

OUR  QUEER  OLD  WORLD 

"Home-Folks" 110 

OUT  OF  NAZARETH 

"Afterwhiles" 79 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 211 

OUT  OF  THE  DARK  AND  THE  DEARTH 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 137 

OUT  OF  THE   HlTHERWHERE 

"Armazindy" 61 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  21 

OUT  TO  OLD  AUNT  MARY'S 

"Afterwhiles" 44 

"Child-Rhymes" 76 

Also,  separately,  illustrated  by  Christy 
PAN 

"Afterwhiles" 105 

PANSIES 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 13 

PAP'S  OLD  SAYIN' 

"Neghborly  Poems" 125 

PARENTAL  CHRISTMAS  PRESENTS 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 44 

PASSING  HAIL,  A 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 191 

PASSING  OF  A  HEART,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 203 

"Love-Lyrics" 44 

PATHOS  OF  APPLAUSE,  THE 

"A  Child-World" 172 

PATHS  OF  PEACE,  THE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 124 

PEACE-HYMN  OF  THE  REPUBLIC,  A 

"Home-Folks" 129 

PEN-PICTUR'  OF  A  CERTIN  FRIVVOLUS  OLD  MAN,  A 

"Neghborly  Poems" 86 

PET  COON,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 165 

"Child-Rhymes" 145 

PIPES  OF  PAN 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 11 

PIXY  PEOPLE,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

"Child-Rhymes" 167 

PLAINT  HUMAN,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 133 

PONCHUS  PILUT 

"Armazindy" 136 

POOR  MAN'S  WEALTH,  A 

"Armazindy" 28 

PRAYER  PERFECT,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 52 

PREACHER'S  BOY,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 173 

PRIOR  TO  Miss  BELLE'S  APPEARANCE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 193 


22  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

PROEM 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  .... 
PROSE  OR  VERSE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 

PROSPECTIVE  GLIMPSE,  A 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

PROSPECTIVE  VISIT,  A 

"A  Child- World" 

QUARREL,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  .... 
QUEST,  THE 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night"  .... 
QUIET  LODGER,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  .... 
RABBIT  IN  THE  CROSS-TIES 

"Armazindy" 

RAGGEDY  MAN,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

"Child-Rhymes" 

RAIN,  THE 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night"  .... 
REACH  YOUR  HAND  TO  ME 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  .... 
RED  RIDING  HOOD 

"Home-Folks" 

REGARDIN'  TERRY  HUT 

"Afterwhiles" 

RHYMES  OF  IRONQUILL,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 

RIDER  OF  THE  KNEE,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

"Child-Rhymes" 

RIGHT  HERE  AT  HOME 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  .... 
RINGWORM  FRANK 

"Armazindy" 

RIPEST  PEACH,  THE 

"Afterwhiles" 

RIVAL,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     .... 

"Love-Lyrics" 

RIVALS,  THE  ;  OR  THE  SHOWMAN'S  RUSE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  .... 
ROBERT  BURNS  WILSON 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     .... 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  23 

ROBINS'  OTHER  NAME,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 28 

ROMANCIN' 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 40 

"Farm-Rhymes" 1T9 

"Neghborly  Poems" 12^ 

ROMAUNT  OF  KING  MORDAMEER,THE 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 140 

ROSE,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     .... 

"Love-Lyrics" 17S 

ROSSVILLE  LECTUR'  COURSE,  THE 

"Neghborly  Poems" 109 

ROUGH  SKETCH,  A 

"Afterwhiles" 40 

RUNAWAY  BOY,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"   ........       227 

"Child-Rhymes" 85 

SAY  SOMETHING  TO  ME 

"Home-Folks" 89 

SAYS  HE 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 156 

SCHOOLBOY'S  FAVORITE,  THE 

"Armazindy" 15? 

SCRAWL,  A 

"Afterwhiles" 59 

SEPTEMBER  DARK 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 209 

"Farm-Rhymes" 1°1 

"Afterwhiles" 81 

SERENADE,  THE 

"Afterwhiles" 113 

SERENADE— To  NORA 

"Armazindy" 63 

SERMON  OF  THE  ROSE,  THE 

"Love-Lyrics" 189 

"Home-Folks" 84 

SHE  "DISPLAINS"  IT 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 202 

SHOEMAKER,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     .....         99 
SHORT'NIN'  BREAD  SONG— PIECED  OUT,  A 

"Home-Folks" 92 

SHOWER,  THE 

"Afterwhiles"     . 67 


24  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

SILENCE 

"Afterwhiles" 

SILENT  SINGER,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 

SILENT  VICTORS,  THE 

"Armazindy" 

SIMPLE  RECIPE,  A 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 

SINGER,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  .... 
SISTER  JONES'S  CONFESSION 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  .... 
SLEEP 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     .... 

"Afterwhiles" 

SLEEPING  BEAUTY,  A 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

SLUMBER-SONG 

"Armazindy" 

SMITTEN  PURIST,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 

SOME  CHRISTMAS  YOUNGSTERS 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 

SOME  SCATTERING  REMARKS  OF  BUB'S 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  .... 
SONG,  A 

"Afterwhiles" 

SONG— FOR  NOVEMBER 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

SONG  I  NEVER  SING,  THE 

"Armazindy" 

SONG  OF  LONG  AGO,  A 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     .... 

"Love-Lyrics" 

"Farm-Rhymes" 

SONG  OF  PARTING 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night"  .... 
SONG  OF  THE  ROAD,  A 

"Home-Folks" 

SONG  OF  YESTERDAY,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 

SONGS  OF  A  LIFE-TIME 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 

SONGS  TUNELESS 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night"        .... 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  25 

SOUTHERN  SINGER,  A,— MADISON  CAWEIN 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 48 

SOUTH  WIND  AND  THE  SUN,  THE 

"Afterwhiles" 23 

"Child-Rhymes" 127 

SPEEDING  OF  THE  KING'S  SPITE,  THE 

"Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 174 

SPHINX,  THE 

"Afterwhiles" 34 

SPIRITS  AT  HOME 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 95 

SPIRK  TROLL-DERISIVE 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 138 

SQUIRT-GUN  UNCLE  MAKED  ME,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 83 

"Child-Rhymes" 71 

STRENGTH  OF  THE  WEAK,  THE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 40 

SUDDEN  SHOWER,  A 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 179 

"Child-Rhymes" 156 

SUMMER'S  DAY,  A 

"Neghborly  Poems" 9 

SUMMER-TIME  AND  WINTER-TIME 

"Armazindy" 164 

SUSPENSE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 202 

"Love-Lyrics" 136 

STEPMOTHER,  THE 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 82 

STRANGE  YOUNG  MAN,  THE 

"Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 156 

TALE  OF  THE  AIRLY  DAYS,  A 

"Neghborly  Poems" 66 

"Farm-Rhymes" 152 

TERRY  HUT,  REGARDIN' 

"Afterwhiles" 180 

THANKSGIVING 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 181 

THAT-AIR  YOUNG-UN 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 88 

THAT  LITTLE  DOG 

"A  Child- World" 76 

THE  BEST  Is  GOOD  ENOUGH 

"His  Pa's  Romance"  115 


26  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

THEIR  SWEET  SORROW 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     .       ,       ,       .       .       218 

"Love-Lyrics" 76 

"Afterwhiles" 7* 

THEM  FLOWERS 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 124 

THEM  OLD  CHEERY  WORDS 

"Home-Folks" 163 

THIS  DEAR  CHILD-HEARTED  WOMAN  THAT  Is  DEAD 

"Armazindy" 85 

THIS  MAN  JONES 

"Pipes  o1  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 125 

THOUGHTS  PER  THE  DISCURAGED  FARMER 

"Neghborly  Poems" 6 

"Farm-Rhymes" ^Q 

THOUGHTS  ON  A  PORE  JOKE 

"Neghborly  Poems" 93 

THREE  DEAD  FRIENDS 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zokesbury" 88 

THREE  JOLLY  HUNTERS,  THE 

"Armazindy" 143 

THREE  SEVERAL  BIRDS 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 200 

THREE  SINGING  FRIENDS 

"Armazindy" 50 

THROUGH  SLEEPY-LAND 

"Armazindy" 150 

TIME 

"Afterwhiles" 117 

TIME  OF  CLEARER  TWITTERINGS 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 89 

"Child-Rhymes" 109 

TINKTK  OF  BELLS,  A 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 103 

To  A  JILTED  SWAIN 

"Armazindy" 130 

To  AN  IMPORTUNATE  GHOST 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks^ 136 

To  A  POET-CRITIC 

"  Armazindy " 86 

To  EDGAR  WILSON  NYE 

"Armazindy" 59 

To  HATTIE— ON  HER  BIRTHDAY 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 29 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  27 

To  HEAR  HER  SING 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 68 

"Love-Lyrics" 148 

To  LOLL  BACK  IN  A  MISTY  HAMMOCK 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 128 

To  MY  OLD  FRIEND,  WILLIAM  LEACHMAN 

"Neghborly  Poems" 31 

To  MY  GOOD  MASTER 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 127 

To  ROBERT  BURNS 

"Afterwhiles"      .' 165 

To  ROBERT  Louis  STEVENSON 

"Home-Folks" 68 

To  SANTA  GLAUS 

"Afterwhiles" 

To  THE  JUDGE 

"Home-Folks" 78 

To  THE  SERENADER 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 104 

To  THE  WINE-GOD  MERLUS 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 195 

To  UNCLE  REMUS 

"Home-Folks" 67 

TOIL 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 117 

TOLD  BY  "THE  NOTED  TRAVELER" 

"A  Child-World" 175 

TOM  JOHNSON'S  QUIT 

"  Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 172 

TOM  VAN  ARDEN 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 52 

"Love-Lyrics" 189 

TOMMY  SMITH 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 3 

TOUCHES  OF  HER  HANDS,  THE 

"Love-Lyrics" 157 

TOWN  AND  COUNTRY 

"Neghborly  Poems" 101 

TOWN  KARNTEKL,  THE 

"Afterwhiles" 178 

TOY-BALLOON,  THE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 37 

TOY  PENNY-DOG,  THE 

"Armazindy" 154 

TRAIN-MISSER,  THE 

"Afterwhiles"      ....  156 


28  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

TRAVELING-MAN,  THE 

"Home-Folks"     ..........         71 

TREE-TOAD,  THE 

"Pipes  o1  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 79 

"Farm-Rhymes" 167 

"Neghborly  Poems" 107 

TRESTLE  AND  THE  BUCK-SAW,  THE 

"Armazindy" 152 

TRIBUTE  OF  His  HOME,  THE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 130 

TUGG  MARTIN 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 190 

TWILIGHT  STORIES 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 25 

TWINS,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 187 

TWINTORETTE,  A 

"Armazindy" 133 

UNCLE  MART'S  POEM 

"A  Child-World" 191 

UNCLE  SIDNEY 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"    ........         12 

UNCLE  SIDNEY'S  LOGIC 

"Home-Folks" 16 

UNCLE  SIDNEY'S  VIEWS 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 59 

UNHEARD,  THE 

"Home-Folks" 113 

UNINTERPRETED 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 18 

UNLESS 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 163 

UP  AND  DOWN  OLD  BRANDYWINE 

"Armazindy" 45 

"Farm-Rhymes" 135 

Us  FARMERS  IN  THE  COUNTRY  AS  THE  SEASONS  Go  AND  COME 

"Neghborly  Poems" 4'2 

VARIATION,  A 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 184 

"Love-Lyrics" 151 

VERY  YOUTHFUL  AFFAIR,  A 

"Love-Lyrics"     .  36 

VOICE  FROM  THE  FARM,  A 

"Afterwhiles"     .  „       112 

VOICES,  THE 

"Armazindy" 131 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  29 

WAIT  FOR  THE  MORNING 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 180 

WAITIN'  FER  THE  CAT  TO  DIE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 14 

"Child-Rhymes" 121 

WANDERING  JEW,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 213 

"Afterwhiles" QJ 

WANT  TO  BE  WHUR  MOTHER  Is 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" §5 

WATCHES  OF  THE  NIGHT,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     ...  130 

WATER-COLOR,  A 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     .       .       .  ,.-  24 

WAY  IT  Wuz,  THE 

"Neghborly  Poems"  .       .        .     ^ ...-'"'".'       .  121 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury"  >_,--.'     ..       .  167 

WAY  THE  BABY  CAME,  THE^ 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"  \ 17 

WAY  THE  BABY  SLEPT,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"    ...  203 

WAY  THE  BABY  WOKE,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood"    ....  132 

WE  ARE  NOT  ALWAYS  GLAD  WHEN  WE  SMILE 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night"         ...  149 

WE  DEFER  THINGS 

"Armazindy" 24 

WEREWIFE,  THE 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 151 

WE  TO  SIGH  INSTEAD  OF  SING 

•  "Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     .        .  205 

"Afterwhiles" gg 

WET- WEATHER  TALK 

"Bipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury"    ....  94 

"Neghborly  Poems" ^ 

"Farm-Rhymes" 3g 

WHAT  CHRIS'MUS  FETCHED  THE  WIGGINSES 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     ....  153 

WHAT  REDRESS 

"Armazindy" g0 

WHAT  THE  WIND  SAID 

"Home-Folks" jgg 

WHEN  AGE  COMES  ON 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     .       .  223 

"Love-Lyrics" 


30  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

WHEN  BESSIE  DIED 

"Afterwhiles" 55 

WHEN  DE  FOLKS  is  GONE 

"Afterwhiles" 189 

WHEN  EARLY  MARCH  SEEMS  MIDDLE  MAY 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 60 

"Farm-Rhymes" 147 

WHEN  I  Do  MOCK 

"Armazindy" *14 

WHEN  JUNE  is  HERE 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 

WHEN  LIDE  MARRIED  HIM 

"Love-Lyrics" 125 

"Armazindy" 

WHEN  MAIMIE  MARRIED 

"Armazindy" 83 

WHEN  MY  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 163 

"Love-Lyrics" " 

WHEN  OLD  JACK  DIED 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 13° 

WHEI;  OUR  BABY  DIED 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 77 

WHEN  SHE  TOBIES  HOME 

"Love-Lyrics" 

WHEN  THE  FROST  is  ON  THE  PUNKIN 
"Neghborly  Poems" 

"Farm-Rhymes" 

WHEN  THE  GREEN  GITS  BACK  IN  THE  TREES 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 

"Neghborly  Poems" 

"F~rm-Rhyru>"  

WHEN  THE  HEARSE  COMES  BACK 

"Afterv/hiles" 138 

WHH:N  THT:  WORLD  BU'STS  THROUGH 

"Rhy.Mcs  of  Childhood" 159 

WHEN  UNCLE  Doc  WAS  YOUNG 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 

WHERE-AWAY 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" » 

WHERE  SHALL  WE  LAND 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" ™ 

"Love-Lyrics" 154 

WHERE  THE  CHILDREN  USED  TO  PLAY 

"Afterwhiles" 


51 


"Farm-Rhymes" 


JAMES  WHITCOMB  RILEY  31 

WHILE  THE  MUSICIAN  PLAYED 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 64 

WHITHERAWAYS,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 215 

WHITTIER— AT  NEWBURYPORT 

"Home-Folks" 54 

WHO  BIDES  His  TIME 

"Afterwhiles" 62 

WHO  SANTY-CLAUS  Wuz 

"Child-Rhymes" 99 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 122 

WHOLLY  UNSCHOLASTIC  OPINION,  A 

"Home-Folks" 91 

WIFE-BLESSED,  THE 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"     .....       105 

"Love-Lyrics" 115 

WILSON,  ROBERT  BURNS 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks" 103 

WINDY  DAY,  A 

"Armazindy" 53 

WINTER  FANCIES 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 49 

"Child-Rhymes" 80 

WITCH  OF  ERKMURDEN,  THE 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 164 

WITH  THE  CURRENT 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 207 

WORN-OUT  PENCIL,  A 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 80 

WORTERMELON  TlME 

"Neghborly  Poems" 16 

"Farm-Rhymes" 127 

WRAITH  OF  SUMMERTIME,  A 

"Green  Fields  and  Running  Brooks"  .....  114 
WRANGDILLION,  A 

"The  Flying  Islands  of  the  Night" 161 

WRITIN'  BACK  TO  THE  HOME-FOLKS 

"Armazindy" 19 

YELLOW-BIRD,  THE 

"Armazindy" 168 

YOUNG  OLD  MAN,  THE 

"His  Pa's  Romance" 47 

YOUR  HEIGHT  is  OURS— To  RICHARD  HENRY  STODDARD 

"Home-Folks" 59 

YOUTHFUL  PATRIOT,  THE 

"Armazindy" 135 


32  A  COMPLETE  INDEX  TO  THE  WORKS  OF 

YOUTHFUL  PRESS,  THE 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 87 


AN  ADJUSTABLE  LUNATIC 

"Sketches  in  Prose"  53 

AN  OLD  SETTLER'S  STORY 

"Neghborly  Poems" 133 

AT  ZEKESBURY 

" Pipes  o1  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 13 

BOY  FROM  ZEENY,  THE 

"Sketches  in  Prose"  231 

CHAMPION  CHECKER-PLAYER  OF  AMERIKY,  THE 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 101 

CHRISTINE  BRAIBRY 

"Rhymes  of  Childhood" 78 

DIALECT  IN  LITERATURE 

"Neghborly  Poems" 195 

ECCENTRIC  MR.  CLARK 

"Sketches  in  Prose"  205 

GILDED  ROLL,  THE 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury". 185 

JAMESY 

"Sketches  in  Prose" 7 

MRS.  MILLER 

"Pipes  o'  Pan  at  Zekesbury" 57 

NEST-EGG,  A 

"Sketches  in  Prose" 133 

OLD  MAN,  THE 

"Sketches  in  Prose" 251 

REMARKABLE  MAN,  A 

"Sketches  in  Prose" 107 

TALE  OF  A  SPIDER 

"Sketches  in  Prose"  149 

TOD 

"Sketches  in  Prose" 77 

TWIGGS   AND  TUDENS 

"Armazindy" 81 

WHERE  Is  MARY  ALICE  SMITH  ? 

"Sketches  in  Prose" 183 

WILD  IRISHMAN,  A 

"Pipes  o' Pan  at  Zekesbury" 139 


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